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STUDIES  IN  SOCIAL  WORK 

CHILD  WELFARE  SERIES        MONOGRAPH  NO.  i 


THE  CHILD  IN  THE 
FOSTER  HOME 

PART  I 


THE  PLACEMENT 

AND  SUPERVISION  OF  CHILDREN 

IN  FREE  FOSTER  HOMES 

A  STUDY  BASED  ON  THE  WORK  OF 

THE  CHILD-PLACING  AGENCY  OF  THE  NEW 

YORK  STATE  CHARITIES  AID  ASSOCIATION 


By 
SOPHIE  VAN  SENDEN  THEIS 

8UPEBINTENDENT  '  > 


CONSTANCE  GOODRICH 

ASSISTANT  8UPEBINTENDENT 


Price  75  cents 


THE  NEW  YORK  SCHOOL  OF  SOCIAL  WORK 
105  East  Twenty-Second  Street,  New  York 

1921 


sy.f 


PUBLISHERS'  INTRODUCTION 

This  monograph  is  an  attempt  to  give  an  honest  account  of  the 
practical  experiences  of  an  actual  agency  in  a  Hmited  area  of  the 
whole  child  welfare  field. 

It  describes  failures  as  well  as  successes. 

It  does  not  attempt  to  discuss  general  or  ideal  standards  of  child 
welfare.  So  far  as  standards  are  discussed  at  all  the  purpose  is  pri- 
marily to  show  those  held  by  the  State  Charities  Aid  Association  in 
the  state  of  New  York  at  the  present  time. 

In  the  practical  appUcation  of  these  standards  a  tendency  to  lower 
them  is  shown  in  particular  instances  due  to  a  lack  of  pubUc  or  private 
funds  and  agencies  to  provide  boarding  family  care  whenever  this  is 
best  for  the  child. 

The  publishers  believe  that  there  has  been  a  gain  to  the  earnest 
student  of  the  problems  of  free  foster  home  care  of  children  because  the 
writers  of  this  monograph  have  had  an  eye  single  to  a  literal  account 
of  and  frank  comment  upon  their  own  experiences  under  actual  con- 
ditions in  New  York  state. 

However,  these  earnest  students  should  recognize,  as  the  writers 
and  publishers  of  this  monograph  clearly  do,  that  other  records  and 
discussions  of  experience  are  needed  to  give  the  present  monograph 
true  community  perspective. 

Especially  is  there  further  need  of  the  true  record  of  wider  ex- 
periences for  two  purposes:  first,  to  make  clear  the  principles  which 
should  determine  the  relationship  of  both  agency  and  free  foster  home 
to  each  other  and  to  the  child;  second,  to  show  how  far  three  other 
forms  of  care,  namely,  adequate  assistance  to  all  mothers  who  could 
thus  care  for  their  own  children,  the  boarding  family  home  whenever 
best  for  the  child,  and  the  wise  development  of  what  the  English  call 
the  ''scattered  home,"  can  and  should  change  the  ratios  of  de- 
pendent children  now  cared  for  in  institutions  and  in  free  family 
homes. 

[3] 

464849 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2007 


http://archive.org/details/childinfosterhomOOtheirich 


PREFACE 

The  work  of  the  Child  Placing  Agency  of  the  New  York  State  Char- 
ities Aid  Association,^  upon  which  this  study  is  based,  is  the  place- 
ment and  supervision  of  children  in  free  foster  homes.  This  agency 
deals  only  with  children  who  are  permanently  separated  from  their 
own  families  and  who  are  suitable  for  foster  home  care.  These  chil- 
dren either  have  been  public  charges  or  would,  if  they  were  not  placed 
in  foster  homes,  become  public  charges.  If  a  child  has  relatives  who 
are  able  to  provide  for  him,  he  is  practically  never  accepted  for  place- 
ment. The  children  come  from  all  parts  of  New  York  state.  As  the 
agency  is  non-sectarian,  it  cares  for  children  of  different  religions,  who 
are  placed  in  homes  of  the  same  faith  as  that  of  their  parents.  Al- 
though most  of  the  children  are  American,  some  of  foreign  parentage, 
such  as  ItaHan,  Scandinavian,  Irish,  Polish,  and  so  forth,  are  included. 

Free  foster  home  care  is  almost  without  exception  the  provision 
made  for  these  children.  They  are  placed  in  homes  which  have  been 
investigated  by  visitors  of  the  Agency,  and  are  supervised  until  they 
are  legally  adopted  or  able  to  look  after  themselves. 

In  this  study  we  have  deliberately  chosen  for  consideration  some 
cases  which  present  difficulties,  for  the  obvious  reason  that  it  is  chiefly 
by  discussion  of  our  difficulties  and  failures  that  we  elucidate  our  prob- 
lems and  develop  plans  for  dealing  with  them.  A  placement  which 
proves  a  failure  oft^en  teaches  us  how  to  make  a  success  of  the  next 
placement.  It  is,  however,  too  easy,  when  one  is  preoccupied  with  a 
difficult  situation  in  case  work,  to  forget  the  hundreds  and  hundreds  of 
uneventful  successful  placements.  After  all,  there  is  a  solid  majority 
of  households  in  which  the  experiment  of  taking  in  a  foster  child  has 


^  This  Association  is  a  private  organization,  supported  by  voluntary  contri- 
butions. 

[5] 


proved  a  distinct  success.  It  is  a  mistake  to  let  one  failure  obscure  a 
dozen  successes.  In  any  work  dealing  exclusively  with  people — the 
average  man,  woman,  and  child — there  are  bound  to  be  inherent  diffi- 
culties which  no  degree  of  expertness  can  altogether  remove.  Yet  im- 
perfect as  the  system  still  undeniably  is,  it  nevertheless  can  show 
achievements  that  are  far  more  significant  and  important  than  its 
failures. 

After  the  dust  of  discussion  has  settled  we  should  doubtless  agree, 
most  of  us,  that  the  foster  home  plan  is,  for  a  certain  group  of  children, 
the  best  plan  so  far  developed.  It  is  closest  in  kind  to  the  natural  way 
of  living  for  the  child,  and  satisfies  most  fully  his  normal  instincts.  Its 
difficulties  and  its  complexities  differ  less  in  kind  than  in  acuteness 
from  those  of  any  family  group.  We  have  concentrated  so  much  at- 
tention on  the  foster  family  group  that  we  are  perhaps  suffering  from 
a  bhnd  spot  when  the  normal  household  is  in  question.  Certain  diffi- 
culties peculiar  to  the  foster  family  group  there  undeniably  are.  In  the 
main,  however,  its  course  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the  average 
household. 

We  must,  however,  make  limits  for  ourselves  in  discussing  the  free 
home  method  of  child  care.  It  is,  after  all,  only  one  section  of  the  im- 
mense field  of  work  for  children,  and  it  is  a  mistake  to  let  the  focusing 
of  our  attention  upon  this  spot  blind  us  to  the  great  area  ^rrounding 
it.  This  sort  of  care  is  advisable  for  probably  less  than  10  per  cent  of 
the  dependent  children  of  New  York  state.  The  other  90  per  cent 
must  be  provided  for  by  other  means:  boarding  homes,  fnothers'  al- 
lowances, or  institutions  for  temporary  care  or  special  training.  It  is 
clear  that  this  plan  cannot  or  should  not  be  used  for  children  who  are 
only  temporarily  separated  from  their  relatives,  nor  for  children  who 
might,  by  subsidies,  be  kept  in  their  own  homes,  as  is  true  of  the  great 
majority  of  the  state's  dependent  children.  It  can  never  be  a  solution 
of  the  general  problem  of  dependent  children. 

It  might  be  added  that  this  study  is  based  on  twenty-two  years  of 
experience  in  free  home  placing.  As  yet,  we  have  not  taken  stock  of 
our  failures  and  successes  by  means  of  any  complete  survey,  but  there 
is  in  the  records  ample  material  on  which  to  base  conclusions.    Over 

[6] 


and  above  that  is  the  fund  of  experience  which  every  agency  stores  up 
and  which  can  never  be  encompassed  within  the  written  record. 

Emphasis  should  be  laid  on  the  fact  that  this  monograph  does  not 
attempt  to  set  standards;  it  merely  reports  work  as  it  was  actually 
done.  It  is  not  a  discussion  of  ideal  foster  home  care,  neither  is  it  the 
report  of  an  agency  which  has  done  an  intensive  piece  of  work  under 
special  conditions.  The  work  of  the  Association  has  been  with  every 
type  of  child,  and  has  been  done  under  adverse  as  well  as  favorable 
circumstances,  and  in  contact  with  many  private  organizations  and 
public  officials.  We  have  not  tried  to  define  standards  but  to  describe 
our  own  experience,  setting  down  certain  conclusions  to  which  we 
have  come  as  a  result  of  practical  case  work.  In  consequence,  records 
quoted  and  cases  cited  have  been  allowed  to  stand  with  whatever  mis- 
takes or  omissions  they  showed,  since  they  are  liter&<l  reports  of  actual 
experience. 

In  this  study  it  is  proposed  to  discuss :  first,  what  children  should  be 
placed  in  free  foster  homes  and  what  we  need  to  know  about  them; 
second,  the  selection  of  foster  homes;  third,  the  process  by  which  the 
child  and  the  home  are  brought  together ;  fourth,  supervision  following 
the  placement;  and  fifth,  replacements. 

Sophie  van  Senden  Theis 

Constance  Goodrich 
NewYork,  N.  Y. 
r        October,  1921. 


[7] 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

Preface 5 

I.  Selection  op  Children  and  Investigation  op  Family  History 11 

II.  The  Selection  op  Homes 31 

III.  Placing  the  Child 65 

IV.  Supervision 79 

V.  Replacements 116 


[9] 


CHAPTER  I 

SELECTION  OF  CHILDREN  AND  INVESTIGA- 
TION OF  FAMILY  HISTORY 

What  Children  Are  Eligible  y/^ 

The  children  accepted  for  placement  in  free  foster  homes  may  be 
classified  in  three  groups:  those  whose  parents  have  deliberately  re- 
fused to  provide  for  them — ^in  other  words,  children  who  have  been 
abandoned;  those  whose  parents  have  been  permanently  deprived 
by  court  action  of  their  custody;  and  children  whose  parents,  for  rea- 
sons other  than  poverty,  are  incapable  of  providing  for  them. 

Abandonment.— In  the  group  of  abandoned  children  are  the  found- 
lings— children  who  have  been  deserted,  and  of  whose  parentage  noth- 
ing can  be  known;  and  the  deserted  children,  whose  parents  may  be 
known  but  cannot  be  found  and  who  have  clearly  intended  a  desertion. 

It  is  practically  impossible  to  invent  a  system  by  which  abandon- 
ment is  made  impossible.  The  best  that  can  be  done  is  to  perfect  a 
method  of  investigation  and  supervision  by  means  of  which  it  is  easy 
to  keep  track  of  the  parents  and  possible  to  force  them  to  provide 
something  for  the  care  of  their  children.  By  this  means  the  number  of 
deserted  children  can  be  reduced  to  a  minimum.  In  New  York  state 
no  such  method  has  as  yet  been  enforced,  although  the  efforts  made 
have  succeeded  in  bringing  down  the  number  each  year.  Children  are 
still  placed  by  private  arrangement  in  boarding  homes  by  their  parents 
and  abandoned  there,  or  committed  to  institutions  by  poor  law  offi- 
cials and  abandoned  there  by  their  parents. 

Abandonment  is  difficult  to  define.  It  is  not  entirely  a  question  of 
the  length  of  time  which  elapsed  since  the  last  visit  or  the  last  pay- 
ment. The  apparent  intention  of  the  parent  is  extremely  important. 
The  attitude  of  the  mother,  her  indifference  to  or  her  affection  for  her 

[11] 


child,  and  her  ability  to  pay  are  all  indicative  of  her  probable  intention 
in  disappearing.  For  instance,  an  unmarried  mother  who  has  shown 
some  affection  for  her  baby,  who  has  been  working  hard  and  is  at  odds 
with  her  family,  is  much  more  likely  to  reappear  and  claim  her  child 
than  a  woman  who  has  visited  her  baby  infrequently,  bought  him  few 
clothes,  and  has  not  attempted  to  support  herself  regularly.  Each 
case  of  abandonment  must  be  decided  on  its  own  evidence,  and  it 
is  essential  to  know  your  situation  thoroughly  by  means  of  an  ex- 
haustive examination  of  all  possible  clues. 

Every  effort  is  made  to  help  unmarried  parents  to  provide  for  their 
children,  and  a  special  department  is  maintained  by  the  Association 
for  this  purpose.  An  unmarried  mother,  if  she  has  the  character  to  do 
it,  is  given  every  chance  to  keep  her  baby  with  her;  work  is  found  for 
her,  and  medical  and  convalescent  care  are  supplied.  There  are,  of 
course,  parents  of  such  character  that  it  is  plain  that  the  child  will 
only  suffer  from  remaining  with  them.  There  are  always  some  moth- 
ers so  determined  to  get  rid  of  their  children  that  they  will  resort  to 
anything:  advertisement,  which  almost  always  means  a  doubtful 
home  for  the  child,  leaving  the  child  in  a  hallway,  or  even  the  sale  of 
the  child.  In  such  cases  the  agency  must  choose  between  accepting 
the  child  or  leaving  the  mother  to  dispose  of  him  in  her  own  way,  since 
New  York  has  no  law  compelling  a  woman  to  keep  her  child. 

Children  Removed  by  Court  Action  from  Their  Parents'  Custody. — 
In  deaUng  with  this  group,  the  agency  will  satisfy  itself  not  only  as 
to  the  legality  of  the  court  procedure,  but  as  to  the  validity  of  the 
evidence  upon  which  the  procedure  was  based.  It  must  assure  itself 
by  an  exhaustive  investigation  of  these  points:  Were  constructive 
measures  used  to  improve  conditions  in  the  home  before  removal  of 
the  children  was  decided  upon?  Is  this  removal  necessary  to  safe- 
guard the  children?  Is  the  situation  upon  which  court  action  is 
based  temporary  or  permanent?  Is  there  a  likelihood  that  the  parents 
will  some  day  estabUsh  a  decent  home  and  that  the  agency  will  feel  it 
advisable  to  return  the  children  to  them?  It  should  be  understood 
that  no  child  should  be  taken  from  his  parents  unless  it  is  clear,  as  far 
as  such  things  can  be  clear,  that  there  is  no  hope  of  their  reformation. 

[12] 


It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  child's  rights  are  quite  as 
valid  as  the  parents',  and  that  he  should  not  be  deprived  of  a  happy 
foster  home  because  there  is  a  remote  possibility  that  his  abusive  father 
may  reform  and  make  a  home  for  him.  ^ 

Of  necessity,  some  time  nearly  always  elapses  between  the  time  that 
the  child  is  abandoned  or  committed  and  his  placement  in  a  foster 
home.  In  other  words,  a  child  is  almost  never  taken  from  his  own  par- 
ents and  immediately  placed  with  foster  parents.  During  this  inter- 
val he  is  cared  for  either  in  an  institution  or  boarding  home,  according 
to  the  type  of  care  provided  in  his  locality.  Such  a  child  is  seldom 
ready,  in  point  of  health,  mental  attitude,  or  training,  for  a  foster 
home.  He  needs  usually  to  learn  the  rudiments  of  cleanly  living,  he 
is  often  in  bad  physical  condition,  and  he  must  have  time  to  accom- 
modate himself  to  his  altered  circumstances. 

Parents  Who  are  Incapacitated. — ^The  third  group  includes  children 
of  parents  permanently  incapacitated  mentally  or  physically;  for  in- 
stance, children  of  incurably  insane  parents,  or  children  whose  mother 
is  dead  and  whose  father  is  serving  a  long  term  in  prison. 

In  addition  to  these  three  groups  there  are  the  orphans,  always  few 
in  number,  whose  relatives  are  imable  to  provide  for  them. 

The  children  are  received  from  two  sources — public  ofl&cials  and 
private  agencies,  in  which  group  we  include  institutions. 


Pre-placement  Inquiry 
Purpose  of  Inquiry. — There  are  several  reasons  why  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  child's  history  must  be  thorough.  We  need  complete 
knowledge  of  the  child's  circumstances  and  personality  to  place  him 
successfully.  Moreover,  we  need  it  to  inform  foster  parents,  who 
more  and  more  frequently  are  demanding  full  and  detailed  histories 


1  There  are  in  New  York  state  over  3500  justices  of  the  peace  who  have  the  right 
to  deprive  parents  of  the  custody  of  their  children.  There  is  great  variation  in 
the  use  of  this  authority,  due  partly  to  the  fact  that  many  of  these  justices  have 
had  no  training  and  have  no  legal  knowledge.  For  these  reasons  many  cases  must 
be  reviewed  by  the  agency  for  possible  irregularity  of  procedure  or  of  evidence. 

[13  1 


for  the  children  whom  they  think  of  adopting.  For  the  child  himself, 
when  he  is  grown,  we  must  have  the  facts  about  his  own  family.  If 
he  knows  that  he  is  an  adopted  child,  as  most  adopted  children  do 
nowadays,  he  will  have  a  natural  curiosity,  which  he  has  a  right  to 
satisfy,  about  his  parentage.  Last  of  all,  but  of  increasing  impor- 
tance, is  the  interest  of  science,  both  social  and  psychological,  in  these 
records,  so  rich  in  human  significance  and  in  facts  which  need  only 
to  be  assembled  to  have  genuine  scientific  value.  Scientific  research 
may  seem  a  remote  affair  to  the  harassed  case  worker,  but  her  records 
may  some  day  contribute  invaluable  material  to  the  scientific  student, 
and  it  is  to  research  that  we  owe  many  of  the  methods  which  we  daily 
use — the  intelligence  test,  the  Wassermann  test,  and  the  complete 
physical  examination. 

First  Inquiry. — ^The  work  of  this  agency  differs  from  that  of  many 
other  agencies  in  one  respect,  that  it  cannot  in  every  case  control  what 
is  technically  known  as  **  the  reception  inquiry."  In  other  words,  the 
case  of  a  child  offered  to  this  agency  for  placement  has  usually  already 
been  at  least  partly  investigated,  and  the  child  has  some  time  since 
been  removed  from  his  own  family.  For  the  agency  this  system  has 
one  drawback :  that  this  investigation  may  originally  have  been  made 
with  the  idea  of  separating  the  child  only  temporarily  from  his  family, 
or  made  at  a  crisis  in  the  family  affairs  which  might  have  been  tided 
over.  Consequently  it  may  be  weak  on  facts  relating  to  family  history, 
as  distinct  from  facts  relating  to  the  child's  dependency  and  the  imme- 
diate emergency.  The  agency  must  review  each  case  with  its  atten- 
tion focused  on  this  question;  should  this  child  be  permanently  sepa- 
rated from  his  relatives?  If  no  other  solution  is  possible,  the  agency 
will  then  collect  the  additional  information  needed,  either  by  asking 
the  agency  which  referred  the  child  to  make  a  further  investigation  or 
by  sending  its  own  agent.  Obviously,  fewer  facts  are  needed  for  the 
record  of  the  child  who  is  to  be  temporarily  a  public  charge  than  for 
the  record  of  a  child  who  is  to  be  placed  for  adoption.  Moreover,  the 
first  investigation  may  have  been  superficial  and  a  second  inquiry  may 
reveal  a  different  situation.   This  agency  has  often  had  referred  to  it  as 


[14 


suitable  for  adoption  children  who,  upon  more  thorough  inquiry,  were 
found  to  have  relatives  willing  and  able  to  provide  for  them. 

The  essential  facts  to  be  secured  and  recorded  for  the  investigation 
of  a  child^s  history  are  as  follows: 

Legal  Status. — How  did  the  agency  secure  the  custody  of  the  child? 
By  poor  law  commitment,  by  court  commitment,  by  abandonment  by 
the  parents? 
O  Family  History. — ^This  involves  gathering  every  scrap  of  significant 
information  about  his  family,  including  his  grandparents,  aunts,  and 
uncles;  their  health,  intelligence,  schooling,  occupations,  habits,  char- 
acter, religion.  Where  and  how  have  they  lived?  Why  did  they 
move?  What  did  the  neighbors  think  of  them?  Were  they  "queer"? 
What  was  their  reputation  in  the  community?  What  did  they  look 
like?  Could  they  hold  jobs?  What  kind?  Did  they  keep  a  clean 
house?  Were  they  quarrelsome?  How  did  they  treat  the  children? 
Have  they  records  in  a  police  office  or  in  a  social  service  office? 

^  Personal  History. — ^How  old  was  the  child  when  conditions  in  his 
home  became  bad?  How  old  when  he  was  removed?  Where  has  he 
lived  since — ^in  boarding  homes  or  institutions  or  in  visiting  homes? 
How  long  in  each?  How  long  has  he  been  in  school?  His  grade?  His 
school  record?    His  personal  appearance,  coloring,  etc.? 

Health. — ^Was  he  breast  fed?  When  did  he  begin  to  walk  and  talk? 
What  illnesses  has  he  had?  What  kind  of  feeding,  cleanliness,  hygiene 
has  he  had?  A  thorough  examination  of  his  present  condition  will 
usually  include  a  Wassermann  test,  and  in  the  case  of  girls  smears  are 
made,  whenever  possible,  for  determination  of  possible  venereal  in- 
fection. 

Intelligence. — ^The  child's  intelligence  is  usually  tested  by  a  psy- 
chologist, using  one  of  the  standard  tests.  Children  whose  parents  or 
relatives  show  a  marked  degree  of  mental  inferiority  should  always  be 
tested,  and  also  children  who  show  serious  retardation.  The  results  of 
the  test,  taken  with  the  observation  of  people  who  see  the  child  con- 
stantly, give  some  indication  of  the  child's  mental  capacity  and  help  to 
determine  whether  he  should  be  placed  with  a  family  who  will  be  ambi- 

1151 


tious  for  his  progress  in  an  educational  way,  or  with  a  family  whose 
work  and  interests  are  of  a  simpler  sort. 

Personality. — Information  about  the  child^s  personaUty  is  as  im- 
portant as  any  of  the  more  tangible  facts  which  we  need.  It  is  possible 
to  have  on  record  a  full  statement  of  the  child's  background,  his 
physique,  and  the  circumstances  of  his  removal  from  his  own  home,, 
and  yet  to  know  nothing  of  the  child  himself.  When  it  comes  to  the 
test,  that  of  setting  a  frightened,  neglected  child  in  the  midst  of  stran- 
gers, such  knowledge  may  prove  futile.  What  we  really  need  to  know  is. 
what  the  child  feels  about  his  own  father  and  mother,  about  his 
separation  from  them,  what  memories  he  has  brought  with  him, 
and  what  he  hopes  and  fears  from  a  new  home.  If  a  little  girl  has  been 
brutally  treated  by  her  drunken  father,  will  she  be  terrified  by  her  new 
father?  Often  such  memories  He  buried  in  the  child's  mind,  unknown 
to  the  foster  parents  or  to  the  visitor,  causing  him  worry  and  fear  and 
making  it  nearly  impossible  for  him  to  trust  the  strangers  with  whom 
he  is  living.  Such  a  child  can  be  hardly  anything  but  unresponsive, 
disobedient,  or  dishonest. 

In  addition  to  knowing  the  child's  feeling  about  his  situation  we 
need  to  know  his  tastes,  the  things  that  he  enjoys  doing,  his  temper, 
his  demonstrativeness,  his  honesty,  his  ability  to  get  on  with  other 
children.  If  he  is  a  robust,  boisterous  child,  strong  willed  and  aggres- 
sive, he  will  never  get  on  with  the  Browns,  who  want  a  sensitive,  re- 
sponsive child,  but  he  may  just  suit  the  Greens,  who  don't  on  any 
account  want  a  "  sissy."  It  is  vital  to  know  these  things  in  advance  so 
that  one  may  choose  the  right  home  for  him. 

Pre-placement  Care. — Before  the  child  can  be  placed  in  a  free 
home,  once  he  is  accepted  for  placement,  an  interval  of  care  in  a 
boarding  home  is  usually  necessary.  A  child  coming  from  a  home 
where  he  has  been  neglected  or  from  an  institution  where  he  has  had 
no  experience  of  ordinary  household  Hfe  is  seldom  ready  for  the  ordeal 
of  adjustment  to  a  strange  family.  Training  in  the  rudimentary  de- 
cencies, as  well  as  in  ordinary  good  manners,  is  often  necessary. 

The  boarding  mother  with  whom  the  child  stays  in  this  interval  is 
expected  to  give  him  the  training  which  will  fit  him  to  go  to  a  free  or 

[161 


adoption  home.  She  may  have  to  correct  habits  such  as  lying,  steal- 
ing, playing  truant  or  setting  fires.  If  the  child  is  placed  while  he  is 
still,  as  the  theologians  used  to  say,  "dead-ripe  in  sin,"  he  is  likely  to 
prove  so  difficult  that  his  foster  parents  will  despair  of  making  him  a 
respectable  member  of  the  family.  The  worst  of  this  transition  be- 
tween his  own  wretched  home  and  his  free  home  should,  if  possible, 
be  got  over  in  a  boarding  home. 

It  is,  moreover,  usually  necessary  to  get  the  child  into  condition 
physically.  Dental  work  and  care  of  the  tonsils  and  adenoids  are 
almost  always  indicated.  "Fattening"  the  child  will  often  make  him 
more  placeable;  certainly  a  general  "grooming"  will  help. 

No  less  important  than  the  medical  and  general  preparation  is  the 
observation  of  the  child's  personality  made  possible  by  boarding  him 
for  a  time  before  placing  him.  The  boarding  mother,  the  nurse  and 
a  special  visitor  can  pool  observations  of  the  child,  with  the  result 
that  he  ceases  to  be  a  case  record  and  becomes  an  individual,  demand- 
ing this  or  that  type  of  home. 

Family  History  Records 

The  following  record  shows  the  amount  of  history  obtainable  in  cer- 
tain cases  which  at  first  sight  may  appear  so  confidential  that  there 
seems  little  chance  of  getting  more  than  the  barest  outlines. 

A  Child  of  Unmarried  Parents.* — Child. — Catherine  Gordon,  bom  November 
30,  1919. 

Father. — Graham  Little  was  interviewed  by  a  visitor  to  whom,  after  some 
hesitation,  he  admitted  that  he  was  the  father.  He  was  the  head  of  a  large  de- 
partment in  the  factory  in  which  Mrs.  Gordon  worked.  He  was  an  American  of 
Irish  and  English  ancestry,  thirty  years  of  age,  tall,  well  built  and  well  dressed. 
He  had  dark-brown  hair  with  a  Uttle  red  in  it,  dark  eyes,  large,  generous  featm*es, 
and  a  well-defined  chin  with  a  cleft  in  it.  He  had  a  strong,  determined  face,  with 
a  good  deal  of  sensitiveness,  eyes  that  twinkled,  and  a  hearty  smile.  One  would 
judge  him  to  be  quite  intellectual  and  rather  emotional — ^a  man  of  strong  affec- 
tions. He  was  a  college  graduate,  had  one  advanced  degree,  and  had  held  several 
important  business  positions.  His  health  was  excellent.  He  was  extremely 
courteous  throughout  the  interview,  very  controlled,  but  plainly  much  moved. 
He  was  frank  and  straightforward  in  his  account  of  the  whole  affair. 


*  Practically  all  case  reports  quoted  have  been  condensed.    All  names  and  ad- 
dresses and  identifying  facts  have  been  changed. 

2  [17] 


Mother. — Margaret  Gordon,  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  tall,  slender,  gray  hair, 
blue  eyes,  high  color,  refined  features,  well  dressed,  makes  a  good  impression; 
very  emotional.  She  seemed  to  have  hved  the  life  of  an  average  country  woman, 
respected  in  the  community,  with  some  social  standing  and  domestic  tastes. 
She  had,  however,  native  abiUty  and  could  probably  have  amoimted  to  something 
in  a  business  way.  She  had  ambition  and  discussed  the  possibiUty  of  taking  a 
business  course.  She  had  held  a  small  poUtical  job  in  her  district,  and  had  had 
considerable  responsibility  at  elections.  She  held  an  important  position  in  one  of 
the  town  welfare  organizations.  At  the  time  that  the  case  was  referred  she  had  a 
small  executive  and  clerical  position  in  a  local  factory.  Previously  she  had  man- 
aged with  a  partner  a  small  but  successful  store,  in  the  course  of  which  venture 
she  had  paid  off  a  large  debt.  She  had  had  only  a  grammar  school  education. 
Her  mental  examination,  made  by  the  agency's  psychologist,  gave  an  intelligence 
quotient  of  103.   The  Wassermann  and  gonococcal  infection  tests  were  negative. 

Grandparents,  Paternal. — Grandfather  born  in  Ireland,  a  sea  captain.  Grand- 
mother, member  of  a  respected  EngUsh  family,  born  in  England. 

Relatives,  Paternal. — Several  of  the  paternal  aunts  and  uncles  were  college 
graduates.  One  of  them  was  a  high  school  principal.  Two  uncles  were  in  the 
army,  one  in  business  and  one  a  farmer  in  the  West.  An  aunt,  married,  was  a 
stenographer. 

Grandparents,  Maternal. — Grandfather  had  kept  a  store  in  the  city,  had  fought 
in  the  Civil  War,  and  died  at  forty  of  heart  trouble.  Grandmother,  interviewed 
by  agent,  was  about  sixty.  She  was  a  tall,  well-built  woman,  with  gray  eyes  and 
pretty  gray  hair  arranged  neatly.  She  had  a  bright,  pleasant  face,  and  was  of  the 
old-fashioned,  motherly  type.  She  was  well  dressed  in  black,  with  white  niching 
in  her  collar,  and  an  old-fashioned  breast-pin.  Her  EngUsh  was  good,  and  her 
manner  very  courteous.  She  was  apparently  from  good  old  country  stock  and 
proud  of  her  ancestry.  She  had  a  small  income,  which  she  supplemented  by 
taking  boarders,  on  which  she  and  her  daughter  Uved.  She  showed  a  good 
deal  of  feehng  in  talking  about  the  baby,  and  had  evidently  taken  the  affair  very 
hard.  She  seemed  a  finer  type  than  her  daughter.  Great  grandfather,  an  EngUsh 
Quaker  preacher.  He  left  an  estate  of  about  $15,000.  Great  grandmother,  an 
English  Quaker  who  had  Uved  in . 

Relatives,  Maternal. — Great  uncles:  One  in  the  trucking  business,  one  an 
inspector  for  a  city  department,  one  in  the  hardware  business,  and  one  an  auto- 
mobile salesman.  All  the  maternal  relatives  were  respectable,  home-loving 
people  in  fair  circumstances. 

Half-Brother. — Seven  years  old,  seen  by  agent.  A  sturdy,  well-developed  boy, 
natural,  and  weU  behaved.  He  had  heavy  brown  hair,  large  gray  eyes,  and  a  de- 
termined chin.  He  was  doing  good  work  in  school  and  seemed  thoroughly  in- 
telUgent. 

History  of  Parents. — Mrs.  Gordon  had  been  married  to  the  son  of  a  country 
lawyer  who  had  been  dissipated,  and  from  whom  she  was  finaUy  separated,  with- 
out a  divorce.  Her  son  was  the  child  of  this  marriage.  The  sympathy  of  the  com- 
munity was  entirely  with  her  in  the  separation. 

Both  the  father  and  mother  admitted  that  they  had  been  reckless.  Little 
had  been  a  boarder  in  the  Gordon  home,  and  had  been  nursed  through  grippe  by 
Mrs.  Gordon.  This  was  the  beginning  of  their  relationship.  Mrs.  Gordon  had 
become  infatuated  with  Little.    There  had,  however,  been  no  question  of  mar- 

[18] 


riage.  At  the  time  of  this  interview  Little  was  definitely  opposed  to  such  a  plan, 
even  if  a  divorce  were  obtained,  and  was  interested  in  a  girl  whom  he  hoped  to 
marry. 

With  regard  to  keeping  the  child,  Mrs.  Gordon's  mother  was  unalterably 
opposed,  because  of  the  damage  to  their  reputation,  the  expense,  and  because  she 
felt  it  unfair  to  Mrs.  Gordon's  boy  to  have  the  child  brought  up  with  him.  Little 
had  paid  $30  a  week  for  the  mother's  expenses  during  confinement,  but  both  he 
and  the  mother  were  firm  in  their  determination  that  the  only  solution  was  to 
have  the  child  adopted.  The  mother  felt  that  for  the  sake  of  her  son  and  because 
she  was  somewhat  dependent  upon  her  mother  for  support  shQ  could  not  keep  the 
baby.  No  amount  of  persuasion  had  any  effect  upon  her.  She  had  made  her  de- 
cision deUberately,  and  was  determined  that  the  baby  should  be  placed.  There 
is  no  law  in  such  a  case  which  forces  a  mother  to  keep  her  child,  and  it  was  finally 
decided  to  accept  the  baby  for  placement. 

Home  Conditions. — ^The  mother's  home  was  an  old-fashioned  house,  built  by 
her  family  many  years  before,  plain  outside  but  attractive  inside.  The  house  was 
in  good  order,  the  windows  filled  with  plants;  the  furnishings  were  plain,  but  there 
was  one  handsome  piece  of  old  mahogany. 

Child's  Personal  History. — Born  in  a  small  private  hospital;  never  nursed. 
An  examination  made  when  the  baby  was  about  four  weeks  old  gave  her  weight 
as  7^  pounds;  negative  smears;  Wassermann  test  negative;  good  nutrition. 
She  was  a  pretty,  healthy  baby,  with  large  blue  eyes,  unusually  bright  and 
attractive. 

An  Abandonment  Case. — The  following  case  is  an  abandonment 
case,  and  shows  the  steps  taken  by  the  agency  in  an  effort  to  prove 
abandonment,  and  the  amount  of  information  collected,  not  only  for 
the  family  record,  but  to  make  clear  the  circumstances  of  abandon- 
ment. 

Child.— Robert  Campbell,  bom  February  2,  1914. 

Father. — ^William  Campbell,  bom  in  ,  Febmary  2,   1882.     American 

ancestry;  Protestant.  Described  as  tall,  broad-shouldered,  of  medium  complexion, 
with  rather  coarse  features  and  an  appearance  of  dissipation.  He  was  probably 
a  man  of  some  personal  charm  in  his  way,  talkative,  genial,  generous,  and  easy- 
going. Graduated  from  grammar  school;  did  not  go  to  high  school;  wrote  very 
poor  letters.  Attended  Sunday  school  till  he  was  fifteen.  As  a  young  boy  he 
went  to  live  with  an  aunt  and  grew  up  in  an  environment  of  racing,  gambling, 
and  drinking.  He  has  been  a  mechanic,  a  chauBfeur  for  an  ambulance,  a  munitions 
worker,  a  pharmacist  in  the  army,  in  which  he  served  three  terms  of  enlistment,  a 
sailor  in  the  merchant  marine,  a  drug  clerk,  checker  for  a  freight  company,  and 
manager  of  a  small  restaurant.  He  has  always  been  inefficient  and  lazy.  In  his 
machine  work  he  stole  tools,  short-changed  people,  and  did  not  work  steadily. 
He  ran  over  a  child  when  he  was  driving  an  ambulance.  He  incurred  debts  which 
his  second  wife  had  to  pay,  and  lost  money  gambHng.  He  drank  somewhat,  but 
not  to  excess,  and  was  not  known  to  be  immoral.  He  owed  money  to  every  one  in  his 
native  town.    He  was  weak  and  easily  taken  in.    He  showed  an  occasional  affection 

[19] 


for  his  son,  but  never  a  real  interest.  He  seldom  responded  to  Robert's  affection  for 
him — ^never  bought  him  clothes  or  toys  and  left  his  support  largely  to  his  second 
wife. 

Mother. — Ruth  Green.  Bom  in  Tennessee,  date  unknown;  Protestant. 
Lost  her  mother  at  two,  and  was  brofught  up  by  three  maiden  cousins.  Her  father 
visited  her  here  only  once.  She  was  tall,  broad-shouldered,  and  big-boned,  with 
light  hair  and  eyes  and  very  high  color.  As  a  child  she  was  strong  and  healthy; 
she  had  a  hard  case  of  measles  at  fifteen.  Attended  public  school;  did  not  like 
to  study;  was  kept  in  the  seventh  grade  four  terms;  left  school  at  sixteen,  was 
said  to  be  too  lazy  to  study,  but  wrote  beautiful  letters.  Went  to  work  in  a  store 
at  sixteen.    After  several  months  was  discharged  for  taking  things  and  lying. 

Stole  as  much  as  $300  from  the  store  where  she  worked.   Worked  in Hospital 

for  Children  as  a  nursery  maid  for  nine  months,  till  her  marriage,  earning  her  living 
and  a  small  wage  besides.  Stayed  out  late  nights,  but  nothing  immoral  was  ever 
known  about  her.  Spoken  of  as  a  "nice,"  fresh-looking  girl,  who  apparently  had 
been  kept  repressed  by  her  cousins  who  reared  her.  She  was  thought  at  the 
Hospital  to  have  an  average  mind — by  no  means  stupid.  After  her  marriage  to 
Campbell  she  was  very  indolent,  lying  in  bed  late  in  the  mornings  and  reading 
novels.  When  she  went  out  with  her  husband  she  was  well  dressed  and  attractive. 
She  was  a  very  poor  housekeeper,  and  though  she  employed  two  colored  servants, 
her  house  was  always  dirty  and  untidy.  She  had  no  abihty  to  manage  them. 
She  was  undoubtedly  devoted  to  her  husband  and  he  to  her.  She  died  of  influenza 
in  October,  1916. 

Grandparents,  Paternal. — Grandfather,  Simon  Campbell,  about  sixty-five 
years  old;  came  originally  from  Ohio.  American.  Had  always  been  a  steady 
worker  and  a  thoroughly  respected  man  in  Northtown;  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  Was  a  plumber  until  a  severe  operation  for  cancer  made  this  im- 
possible. Had  worked  since  at  munition  inspection  and  in  shipyards.  A  man  who 
always  met  his  bills,  well  thought  of  by  his  neighbors  and  by  his  children.  A 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  not  an  attendant.  Grandmother,  Mrs. 
Simon  Campbell,  fifty-nine  years  old;  native  of  Pennsylvania;  a  slender  woman  of 
medium  height,  with  rather  straggly  gray  hair  and  blue  eyes.  She  looked  a  Uttle 
hard  and  uncompromising  at  first,  but  one  got  a  better  impression  after  talking 
with  her.  She  had  had  a  great  deal  of  trouble  in  her  life  and  it  had  saddened  her 
very  much.  A  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  the  family  were  not  regular 
attendants.    She  suffered  considerably  from  headaches. 

Relatives,  Paternal. — ^Aunt,  Anna  Campbell  Andrews  (Mrs.  George  Andrews), 
twenty-six  years  old.  Had  been  married  four  or  five  years  and  had  a  boy  who  was 
a  charming  youngster.  Mrs.  Andrews  was  tall,  broad-shouldered,  had  fair  hair, 
blue  eyes,  and  very  good  features.  She  took  vocal  and  piano  lessons  as  a  girl. 
At  the  time  of  her  marriage  she  had  several  pupils.  She  had  a  beautiful  speaking 
voice.  She  felt  that  it  was  not  fair  to  her  own  family  to  take  Robert.  She  expected 
another  baby  in  October.  She  said  that  she  and  her  husband  were  struggling  to 
make  a  hving,  and  that  all  that  they  can  get  together  would  not  be  more  than 
enough  to  take  care  of  their  children  and  educate  them.    Aunt,  Dorothy  Campbell, 

eighteen  years  old;  a  clerk  for  the Company  in .    A  nice,  quiet  girl  who 

did  not  give  her  mother  any  cause  for  worry.  Uncle,  Henry  Campbell,  seventeen 
years  old;  had  a  business  training  but  preferred  to  work  outside.  A  carpenter. 
From  his  picture  he  looked  Uke  a  good,  self-respecting  boy. 

[20] 


The  Campbell  family  was  an  average  decent,  American  small-town  fanuly. 
They  were  people  (with  the  exception  of  WilUam  Campbell)  who  paid  their  bills, 
owned  their  homes,  and  were  apparently  well  thought  of  by  neighbors.  Their 
home  was  an  unpretentious  frame  house  at  the  end  of  a  short  side  street.  There 
were  paved  sidewalks  and  large  trees  in  the  yard.  The  lawn  had  not  received  much 
care,  and  was  badly  worn  down.  Otherwise  the  house  presented  a  very  neat  ap- 
pearance. It  was  painted  pale  yellow,  and  had  old-fashioned  shutters.  Inside  it 
was  very  spick  and  span.  The  furniture  was  old  and  not  particularly  good,  but 
the  rooms  were  orderly  and  the  wall-paper  fresh  and  in  good  taste.  There  were 
several  old-fashioned  pictures.  On  the  piano  popular  music  was  piled  high.  It 
is  quite  possible  that  with  three  people  in  the  Campbell  family  working  they 
could,  if  they  wanted  to  make  the  sacrifice,  have  cared  for  Robert.  Henry  earned 
$21  a  week,  his  father  probably  about  the  same,  and  his  sister  not  very  much  less. 

Grandparents,  Maternal. — Grandfather,  Egbert  Green,  lived  in County, 

.    Was  a  farmer;  married  his  first  cousin,  with  whom  he  lived  happily.    Had 

a  large  family,  whom  he  appeared  to  love  very  much,  but  for  whom  he  felt  no 
responsibility  at  his  wife's  death.  After  the  children  were  taken  by  relatives  he 
disappeared.  Was  a  fairly  good  worker,  and  provided  for  family  until  wife's 
death.    He  owned  a  small  farm,  but  sometimes  went  out  to  work  by  the  day. 

Grandmother,  bom  and  brought  up  on  a  farm  in County,  .    Had  a 

happy  married  life;  very  fond  of  her  nine  children.  Had  tuberculosis  and  died  of 
pneumonia. 

Relatives,  Maternal. — Eight  uncles  and  aunts:    two  married  uncles  Uving 

in County, ;  one  unmarried  uncle,  sixteen,  in ;  one  aunt  died  of 

kidney  trouble;  two  died  of  tuberculosis;  one  of  appendicitis.  Cousins,  Misses 
Margaret,  MilUe,  and  Janet  O'Hara,  three  unmarried  women  Uving  together  at 

Street, .    They  ranged  in  age  from  thirty  to  forty.    They  were  pleasant, 

cordial  people  of  the  middle  class,  and  hard  working;  impressed  one  as  highly 
respectable.  Their  home  was  a  well-kept,  well-furnished,  six-room  apartment. 
The  two  older  women  went  out  to  work — one  a  stenographer  in  the Com- 
pany, one  a  milUner.  These  three  cousins  took  Ruth  Green,  Robert's  mother, 
after  her  mother's  death,  and  brought  her  up  as  their  own. 

History  of  Parents. — Robert's  mother  died  in  October,  1916,  and  in  January, 
1917,  his  father  remarried.  In  May,  1917,  his  father  went  west,  leaving  the  boy 
with  the  second  Mrs.  Campbell,  and  has  never  reappeared.  The  case  came  to  the 
attention  of  the  agency  in  August,  1917,  through  the  stepmother,  who  had  herself 
and  her  mother  to  support,  debts  to  pay  off,  and  could  not  keep  Robert. 

A  thorough  canvass  of  the  relatives  disclosed  no  one  who  was  willing  to  take 
the  boy.  His  paternal  grandmother  and  grandfather  had  paid  debt  after  debt 
for  Robert's  father,  had  opposed  his  second  marriage,  and  took  the  stand  that 
since  the  second  Mrs.  Campbell  had  married  a  widower  with  a  child,  it  was  up  to 
her  to  support  the  child.  They  wrote  her:  "As  for  Robert,  it  is  not  up  to  us  to 
say  what  shall  be  done  with  him — that  is  for  you  and  his  father  to  settle."  Al- 
though they  were  interviewed  by  an  agent,  they  absolutely  refused  to  do  anjrthing 
for  their  grandson,  even  though  the  result  of  their  refusal  was  to  be  the  severing 
of  all  connections  between  Robert  and  his  own  family.  They  were  able  financially 
to  care  for  him,  but  unwilling  to  do  anything  more  for  his  father,  and  preferred  to 
see  the  child  turned  over  to  a  charitable  organization.  The  only  maternal  rela- 
tives living  whose  address  was  known  offered  to  put  the  child  into  a  local  orphan 

[21] 


asylum,  pay  something  toward  his  care,  visit  him  there,  and  take  him  out  for 
occasional  vacations.  The  agency  refused  this  offer,  feeling  that  so  promising  a 
boy  should  have  the  advantages  of  a  foster  home. 

Obviously  the  question  confronting  the  agency  was  whether  William  Camp- 
bell, the  father,  had  intentionally  abandoned  his  son  and  did  not  intend  to  reappear. 
There  had  been  one  note  from  him  to  his  wife  in  the  four  months  since  he  had  left. 
Her  letters  to  him  had  been  returned  unclaimed,  and  he  had  sent  no  money  to  her. 
His  address  was  unknown  at  that  time  and  has  remained  imknown.  The  local 
child-placing  organization  in  the  far  western  state  to  which  he  had  gone  was  asked 
to  trace  him.  It  was  discovered  that  he  had  been  involved  in  some  petty  thieving 
and  had  been  chased  out  of  town.  The  police,  who  were  communicated  with, 
were  unable  to  trace  him.  An  advertisement  asking  for  information  as  to  the 
whereabouts  of  William  Campbell  wa^  published  twice  weekly  for  six  weeks  in 
two  papers.  The  two  responses  received  threw  no  light  on  the  movements  of 
Campbell.  None  of  his  relatives  knew  where  he  was  or  what  his  intentions  were 
with  regard  to  Robert.  When  by  March,  1918,  no  further  information  was  forth- 
coming about  the  whereabouts  of  Campbell,  it  was  decided  to  place  Robert  in  a 
free  home,  which  was  done.  By  that  time  ten  months  had  elapsed  since  the  father's 
disappearance.  One  reason  why  the  agency  felt  safe  in  taking  this  risk  was  that 
Campbell's  character,  as  it  was  described  by  the  numerous  persons  interviewed, 
showed  a  deliberate  dodging  of  responsibility  and  an  instabiUty  which  made  it 
unlikely  that  he  would  reappear  to  assume  an  obligation.  An  affidavit  of  pubUca- 
tion  was  secured  from  the  two  papers  and  a  statement  from  Mrs.  Campbell 
showing  Campbell's  failure  to  support  her  or  to  communicate  with  her. 

Child's  Personal  History. — A  full-time  baby;  his  mother  was  in  splendid 
physical  condition  before  his  birth.    The  birth  was  normal.    Child  weighed  12 

pounds.   Baptized  in  the  Episcopal  Church  November  15, 1914,  by  the  Rev. . 

Received  very  poor  care  as  a  baby.  Left  to  colored  maids,  who  did  as  they  pleased. 
He  was  never  trained.  Taken,  after  his  mother's  death,  by  his  paternal  aunt, 
Mrs.  Andrews,  who  boarded  him  for  his  father.  Taken  by  his  stepmother  after 
his  father's  remarriage  in  January,  1917.  Boarded  by  the  S.  C.  A.  A.  after  Sep- 
tember 16,  1917. 

Physical  Examination,  September  16, 1917:  Diagnosis:  Present  health  good; 
scalp  clean  and  healthy;  eyes,  ears,  nose,  pharynx,  heart,  lungs,  skin,  back, 
arches,  O.  K.;  five  decayed  teeth;  tongue  clean;  large  tonsils;  large  anterior 
cervical  glands  on  both  sides;  abdomen,  genitals,  negative;  height,  3  feet  3^  inch; 
weight,  S0}4:  pounds;  nutrition  good.  Recommendations:  To  dental  cUnic; 
watch  for  sore  throat;  if  throat  is  irritated  often,  tonsils  should  be  removed. 
Tests  for  Wassermann  and  gonococcal  infection  negative. 

Mental  Examination,  September  16,  1917:  Age,  three  years  seven  months; 
mental  age,  three  years  four  months:  Intelligence  quotient,  94.  The  tests  show 
this  boy  to  be  of  average  normal  intelligence.  He  is  endowed  with  a  very  steady 
attention  and  remarkable  powers  of  perseverance  and  endurance.  Memory  and 
comprehension  are  normally  developed.  His  cooperation  was  very  good.  This 
child  is  very  pleasant,  well-mannered,  and  lovable.  He  is  placeable  in  a  good 
home,  where  he  will  have  a  chance  to  develop  his  native  abilities. 

Personal  Description:  Blue  eyes,  golden  hair,  features  rather  large,  but  good, 
skin  fair  and  clear,  expression  friendly  and  alert;  average  height. 

His  stepmother  reported  him  as  very  intelligent,  mechanically  inclined,  very 

[221 


observant,  and  persistent,  good-humored,  easily  trained,  and  affectionate.  He 
showed  quite  unusual  powers  of  concentration  for  so  young  a  child.  Although  he 
was  shy  with  strangers,  his  affection  for  people  whom  he  knew  was  strong  and  per- 
sistent. He  was  a  rather  serious,  self-contained  little  boy,  used  to  playing  alone 
and  amusing  himself.  It  was  clear  that  he  had  a  decided  character  and  needed 
firm  handling,  in  spite  of  his  amiabihty.  His  boarding  mother  grew  devoted  to 
him,  and  found  him  very  teachable  but  strong  willed.  His  stepmother  reported 
that  he  sat  down  one  day  in  front  of  her  sewing  machine,  and  after  remaining 
perfectly  quiet  for  about  twenty  minutes,  explained  to  her  accurately  how  it 
worked.  He  was  about  four  at  the  time.  It  was  felt  that  he  was  a  child  with 
possibilities  decidedly  above  the  average. 

Sources  of  Information. — Information  was  obtained  from:  the  stepmother 
and  her  mother;  the  grandmother;  the  aunt;  the  three  cousins;  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  hospital  where  Mrs.  Campbell  worked;  the  head  of  the  department 

store  where  she  worked;  Sergeant of  the  hospital  where  Campbell  worked; 

the  children's  agency  in  the  western  state;  the  police  in  the  same  town,  and  from 
several  townspeople  of  Campbell's. 

Time  and  money  spent  in  the  exhaustive  investigation  of  an  aban- 
donment case  are  seldom  wasted.  Such  inquiry  is  imperative  to  pro- 
tect both  the  child  and  his  foster  parents,  and  to  assure  the  agency  that 
it  is  socially  and  ethically  j  ustified  in  placing  the  child.  Many  agencies 
have  doubtless  known  cases  of  premature  placing  of  children,  supposed 
to  have  been  deserted,  who  should  never  have  been  placed. 

For  instance,  one  spring,  about  twenty  years  ago,  this  agency  had 
referred  to  it  for  placement  two  sisters  of  three  and  five.  The  institu- 
tion which  referred  them  stated  that  they  were  orphans,  had  been 
deserted  in  the  institution,  and  had  been  public  charges  for  six  months. 
Without  any  investigation  of  the  authenticity  of  these  statements  this 
agency  accepted  and  placed  the  children.  It  was  several  years  before 
the  actual  facts,  which  were  as  follows,  were  discovered :  the  children 
had  been  placed  there  in  an  emergency;  both  parents  were  critically  ill 
with  typhoid;  the  paternal  grandmother  was  niu-sing  them,  and  the 
maternal  grandmother  was  caring  for  the  baby  brother  and  an  older 
sister.  The  mother  died ;  the  paternal  grandmother  had  a  breakdown, 
due  to  worry  and  overwork,  and  the  father  was  forced  to  go  to  work  as 
soon  as  he  recovered,  to  pay  his  debts.  In  the  mean  time  the  family 
assumed  that  the  children  were  all  right.  It  was  about  a  year  before 
the  family  was  reestablished  sufficiently  to  apply  to  the  institution  for 
the  return  of  the  children.    When  they  arrived,  they  found  that  the 

[23  1 


children  had  been  *  *  given  away ' '  to  some  agency  for  adoption.  It  took 
the  family  several  years  to  find  what  agency  had  taken  the  children, 
who  meantime  were  established  in  their  foster  homes.  One  was  legally 
adopted  before  the  family's  letter  of  inquiry  was  received.  This  letter 
was  the  first  information  that  the  agency  had  about  the  circumstances 
of  the  children's  separation  from  their  own  family. 

The  errors  made  in  this  case  are  obvious.  In  the  first  place,  the  rec- 
ord of  the  institution  was  incorrect  in  stating  that  the  children's  father 
as  well  as  their  mother  was  dead;  that  the  institution  was  unable — 
or  possibly  unwilling — to  give  the  address  of  the  agency  to  the  family 
is  an  instance  of  a  disastrous  failure  in  the  keeping  of  adequate  rec- 
ords. But  the  real  blame  rests  on  this  agency  for  accepting  without 
verification  the  statements  made  in  the  institution's  record.  There 
was  not  even  the  excuse  that  there  were  no  clues  to  work  on,  for  the 
children's  home  address  was  given  in  the  record.  A  visitor  should,  of 
course,  have  been  sent  there  to  see  whether  there  were  surviving  rela- 
tives who  could  care  for  the  children.  The  result  of  such  negligence 
was  the  permanent  separation  of  two  children  from  a  family  which 
soon  became  entirely  able  to  care  for  them,  and  which  is  in  every  way 
a  good  family — a  separation  involving  real  suffering  to  that  family. 

An  "Improper  Guardianship"  Case. — Child. — Catherine  Tuttle,  born  April  26, 
1912. 

Father. — ^John  Tuttle  (if  he  is  the  father  of  this  child;  see  personal  history  for 

detailed  information)  was  born  in ,  Massachusetts,  in  1878.    Little  is  known 

of  his  early  history,  but  he  is  said  to  have  come  from  American  stock.    When  he 

first  came  into  the  vicinity  of he  worked  for  Mrs.  Tuttle's  father  as  a  farm 

hand.  He  is  said  to  have  been  very  intemperate,  and  did  not  support  his  family 
properly,  so  that  he  and  his  wife  separated  several  times.  The  aunt,  Mrs.  Strong, 
claims  that  she  has  heard  that  he  used  to  bring  men  to  the  house  in  order  that 
they  might  have  improper  relations  with  Mrs.  Tuttle.  He  deserted  about  seven 
years  ago,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.    He  is  a  Protestant. 

Mother. — CJora  Strong  Tuttle;  Protestant;  bom  1880,  in  the  vicinity  of . 

Her  mother  left  her  when  she  was  foiu*  years  old,  and  she  was  then  taken  by  her 
father's  sister,  Mrs.  Graham,  to  Brooklyn,  and  brought  up  by  her.  According  to 
her  aunt,  Mrs.  Strong,  the  girl  had  a  fair  education  and  never  worked  outside  the 

home  except  to  help  out  relatives.    Later  she  came  back  to ,  where  she  kept 

house  for  her  father  until  her  marriage.  About  seven  years  ago  she  began  going 
with  questionable  characters  and  having  them  at  the  house.  Various  complaints 
were  brought  against  her  character,  and  investigations  were  made  by  the  Society 
for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children  covering  a  period  of  two  years,  with 

[24] 


the  result  that  in  1915  Mrs.  Tuttle  served  six  months  on  Blackwell's  Island,  on  a 
charge  of  having  impaired  the  morals  of  her  children.  Mrs.  Connell,  Mrs.  Tuttle's 
aunt,  feels  that  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  early  influenced  by  her  father,  and  thinks  that 
he  had  improper  relations  with  her  when  she  was  a  child.    Mrs.  Tuttle  is  now 

living  near ,  keeping  house  for  a  farm  hand,  and  living  illegally  with  him. 

She  is  a  sUght,  thin,  nervous  woman  who  is  very  talkative.  At  various  times  she 
has  gone  out  to  do  day's  work. 

Grandparents,  Paternal. — George  Tuttle  and  Mary  Smith  Tuttle.  No  infor- 
mation could  be  obtained  concerning  them. 

Grandparents,  Maternal. — Robert  Strong  died  in  1903.  He  was  a  Protestant 
and  of  old  American  stock.  He  worked  as  a  florist  and  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of 
.  He  was  always  a  heavy  drinker,  and  in  later  years  consumed  large  quanti- 
ties of  some  medical  preparation  which  was  largely  alcohol.  He  had  deliriimi 
tremens,  and  died  of  blood  poisoning  which  was  complicated  by  his  alcoholic 
condition.  He  is  said  to  have  had  improper  relations  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Tuttle,  when  she  was  a  child.  According  to  his  sister-in-law,  Mrs.  Connell,  he 
was  a  very  mean  man,  and  would  not  give  his  family  enough  to  eat.  Before  Mrs. 
Tuttle's  birth,  Mrs.  Strong  was  obliged  to  send  one  of  the  children  to  a  neighbor's 
for  a  crust  of  bread  because  she  was  too  weak  to  go  herself. 

Relatives,  Maternal. — ^Aunt,  Mrs.  George  Harrison  (Lena  Strong).  According 
to  the  Strong  family  she  was  not  much  good,  and  left  her  two  little  children  to  go 
and  live  with  a  man  in  Connecticut.  According  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Connell,  she 
left  her  husband  because  he  would  not  support  her  and  took  the  children  to  his 
mother's,  getting  a  place  at  housework  in  the  village.    Uncle,  Philip  Strong, 

Protestant,  American,  born  in  the  town  of .    He  was  married  and  lived  at 

Street, .    He  was  in  the  awning  business,  and  at  one  time  was  a  fireman. 

Died  in  the  almshouse  at January  13, 1915,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine.    Great 

uncle,  John  Strong,  is  a  farmer  at .    He  has  one  son  who  is  trying  for  an 

army  conmiission,  and  another  son  who  is  employed  in  a  clerical  position  at . 

The  family  are  hard  working  and  respectable,  and  much  tried  with  Mrs.  Tuttle. 
They  have  helped  the  Tuttles  at  various  times,  and  once  took  the  family  into  their 

home.    Great  aunt,  Mrs.  Clara  Howard,  Avenue,  .    She  has  lately 

married  a  second  time  and  has  a  comfortable  little  home. 

Brothers  and  Sister. — ^Brothers:   James,  bom  at September  23,  1901. 

Was  conmiitted  April,  1913,  by  Judge ,  to  the Asyliun  as  a  disorderly 

child  (truant),  where  he  is  at  present.    William,  bom  in  town  of , ,  was 

committed  February,  1915,  by  Judge ,  to  St. Institution  because   of 

improper  guardianship.    He  is  at  present  in  St. ,  where  he  is  supported  by  the 

town  of .  He  is  in  3  B  grade,  and  is  said  to  be  good  natured  and  affectionate. 

Sister:  Margaret,  bom  June  22,  1898.  In  1914  complaint  was  made  to  the 
S.  P.  C.  C.  of  Margaret.  It  was  investigated,  but  there  was  not  suflficient  evidence 
to  bring  the  case  into  court.    In  February,  1915,  when  the  mother  was  sent  to 

Blackwell's  Island,  Margaret  was  sent  to  the Institution.    She  later  ran 

away  from  the  institution  and  went  to  her  mother  in .   She  was  later  returned 

to  the  institution.  When  seen  in  July,  1917,  she  had  been  discharged  from  the 
institution  and  was  at  home  with  her  mother.  She  was  working  in  the  gardens  of 
neighbors  earning  a  dollar  a  day.  She  is  an  attractive  looking  girl,  rather  tall 
with  dark  hair  and  eyes. 

History  of  Parents.— Married  in ,  May  9,  1898,  by  the  Rev. ,  of  the 

[25  1 


Baptist  Church.  Verified  from  records  of  town  of .  In  1911  the  man  de- 
serted and  no  trace  has  ever  been  found  of  him.    Had  occasionally  deserted  before. 

Home  Conditions. — When  the  family  Uved  in ,  the  location  of  the  home 

was  in  a  rather  undesirable  part  of  town.  It  was  frequented  by  undesirable 
characters. 

Occupations. — ^The  man  was  employed  as  a  farm-hand  or  day  laborer.  After 
the  husband  deserted,  the  woman  went  out  for  day's  work  and  occasionally  acted 
as  housekeeper. 

Child's  Personal  History. — About  eleven  months  before  the  child's  birth  Mr. 
Tuttle  deserted,  but  his  wife  claims  that  he  came  back  once  and  is  the  father  of 
Catherine.  Mrs.  Strong  states  that  at  this  time  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  going  with  ques- 
tionable characters,  and  in  her  opinion  the  father  of  Catherine  is  Walter  Engel, 
about  whom  nothing  could  be  learned.  The  child  was  in  her  own  home  from  the 
time  of  her  birth  until  her  commitment  to  an  institution  in  February,  1915.  She 
is  a  chubby  little  girl  with  a  happy  expression.  She  talks  very  crooked,  but  is 
quite  friendly  and  affectionate. 

Children  Whose  Parents  are  Physically  or  Mentally  Abnormal. — 
There  will  always  be  a  certain  number  of  children  whose  heredity  is 
such  that  the  agency  will  question  whether  they  will  prove  sufficiently 
normal  for  family  and  community  life.  However,  although  the  agency 
may  consider  the  risk  of  placing  almost  prohibitive,  they  often  find 
that  lack  of  funds  for  the  child's  support  makes  placing  him  the  only 
course  possible.  The  local  poor  law  official,  in  New  York  state  at 
least,  will  not  support  a  child  indefinitely  at  public  expense  if  a  home 
can  be  found  for  him.  It  often  happens  that  these  children  of  un- 
promising history  are  among  the  most  attractive  children  available, 
and  can  almost  always  find  a  home,  especially  if  they  be  young  chil- 
dren. The  local  poor  official  may  not  regard  his  history  as  a  reason 
why  the  child  should  not  be  placed  in  a  free  home,  and  if  the  agency 
refuses  the  child,  he  is  quite  likely  to  place  the  child  himself.  He  will 
probably  have  no  facilities  either  for  investigating  the  home  before- 
hand or  for  supervising  the  child  there  later,  and  the  chances  are  sHght 
that  the  child  will  get  the  special  environment  which  his  handicap 
necessitates.  For  this  reason  the  agency  may  decide  itself  to  place  the 
child,  so  that  he  can  be  kept  under  supervision,  and  if  he  later  proves 
a  dangerous  member  of  the  community,  be  sent  to  a  suitable  institu- 
tion. 

The  problem  is  particularly  difficult  when  the  child  in  question  is  so 
young  that  it  is  possible  only  to  guess  at  his  probable  development. 

[26] 


As  so  often  happens,  the  appHcants  may  be  much  more  attracted  to 
this  child  than  to  any  of  the  others  available.  Whether  or  not  the 
agency  places  the  child  with  them  will  be  determined  largely  by  the 
intelligence  of  the  family  and  their  ability  to  comprehend  what  mental 
^b^pnnaMty  means.  One  woman  to  whom  the  possible  dangers  in  her 
child's  heredity  were  carefully  explained  remarked,  "Oh,  well, 
I'll  have  him  baptized  and  then  I  guess  he'll  be  all  right."  Another 
foster  parent  considering  the  same  child  might  insist  on  reading  the 
mother's  mental  examination,  and  on  knowing  all  the  facts  that  could 
be  hunted  out  about  the  education,  intelUgence,  and  practical  ability 
of  the  grandparents,  uncles,  and  aunts. 

In  either  case  the  safe  and  fair  thing  is  undoubtedly  to  explain  to 
the  prospective  foster  parents,  in  language  adapted  to  their  under- 
standing, both  the  risks  that  they  may  be  taking  and  the  chances  that 
the  child  may  develop  normally,  so  far  as  these  can  be  foreseen. 

Following  are  three  illustrative  records: 

First  Case. — Child. — Ruth  Gibson,  born  December  25,  1911. 

Father. — A  man  of  extremely  bad  character;  degenerate  and  unreliable; 
alcoholic.  He  killed  his  first  wife  by  his  brutal  habits.  He  was  nearly  seventy 
when  Ruth  was  born. 

Mother. — Nellie  Jones,  illegitimate,  bom  at  a  road-house  and  brought  up  by 
her  father  and  the  woman  with  whom  he  was  living.  She  was  beaten  and  mal- 
treated, taught  to  smoke  and  drink.  Her  foster  mother  was  a  dissolute,  high- 
tempered,  erratic  woman.  Nellie  went  to  school  but  was  incapable  of  going 
further  than  the  eighth  grade.  Her  foster  mother  committed  suicide,  and  before 
she  drank  the  poison  tried  to  make  the  girl  drink  it.  Nellie  was  married  at  four- 
teen, but  deserted  by  her  husband,  who  could  not  live  in  the  same  house  with 
NelUe's  foster  mother.  Nellie  worked  as  housekeeper  for  various  men,  one  of 
whom  was  the  father  of  Ruth.  She  was  finally  committed  to  a  reformatory  in 
1918,  but  later  transferred  to  a  State  Custodial  Asylum.  Her  mental  examina- 
tion showed  a  physical  age  of  24-10-12  years,  and  a  mental  age  of  9-2-12  years. 
She  was  pronounced  feeble-minded;  moron.  Her  Wassermann  and  gonococcal 
infection  tests  were  both  negative. 

Grandparents,  Maternal. — Grandmother,  Jennie  Green;  a  prostitute  of  the 
worst  type.  She  lived  most  of  the  time  at  a  low  road-house.  A  driver  told  the 
agent  that  he  had  never  seen  such  disgusting  sights  as  at  this  road-house.  Jennie 
was  "a  big,  cow-like  creature,  silly,  idiotic,  who  did  not  know  enough  to  go  in 
when  it  rained."  Grandfather,  Albert  Burns;  came  from  good  clean  farmer's 
stock,  but  was  infatuated  with  Jennie.  He  led  a  wretched  life  with  her,  and  died 
of  drink  and  tuberculosis. 

Relatives,  Maternal. — There  were  a  number  of  decent  and  intelligent  maternal 
relatives,  but  they  were  unable  to  take  the  child. 

[271 


Home  Conditions. — When  the  agent  began  work  on  this  case  Ruth's  mother 
had  been  Hving  with  a  negro  for  three  years  and  was  pregnant.  During  the 
influenza  epidemic  conditions  in  the  home  were  so  frightful  that  the  agent  inter- 
fered. Ruth  was  committed  for  improper  guardianship  December  20,  1916,  by  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  placed  in  an  institution. 

Child's  Personal  History. — The  report  of  the  child  from  the  institution  waa 
entirely  satisfactory.  She  was  considered  one  of  their  most  attractive  children, 
teachable,  and  with  no  bad  habits.  The  agent  who  brought  her  to  New  York 
found  her  affectionate  and  appeaUng,  rather  repressed,  but  with  possibiUties  of 
initiative.  She  was  shy,  but  friendly  when  she  got  used  to  people,  amused  herself 
easily,  showed  good  concentration,  and  seemed  altogether  normal.  The  boarding 
mother,  with  whom  she  stayed  about  two  weeks,  confirmed  these  satisfactory 
reports. 

Her  physical  examination,  made  December  13,  1917,  two  days  after  her  arrival 
in  New  York  showed  good  nutrition  and  no  unfavorable  symptoms.  Her  Was- 
sermann  and  gonococcal  infection  tests  were  negative. 

Personal  Description:  Ruth  was  tested  mentally  July  25,  1917.  The  report 
was:  Physical  age,  5-7-12  years;  mental  age,  4-6-12  years.  IntelUgence 
quotient,  80;  basic  age,  3.  The  examiner  said:  It  is  impossible  at  this  time  to 
determine  the  future  mental  status  of  this  child.  At  present  she  is  one  year  re- 
tarded and  does  not  seem  very  promising  material;  still,  she  should  be  given  a 
chance  to  develop.  Her  mental  growth  and  school  progress  should  be  carefully 
noted,  and  a  mental  examination  given  each  year  over  a  period  of  several  years  or 
imtil  her  mental  status  is  established. 

A  second  mental  examination,  December  18,  1917,  by  a  different  psychologist, 
showed  heractualageassix  years,  and  her  mental  age  as  five  years  and  six  months. 
Her  inteUigence  quotient  was  92.  The  examiner  said:  This  child  is  considered  of 
average  normal  mentality.  Her  reasoning,  observation,  attention,  and  memory  are 
normal.    She  is  a  Uvely,  talkative  child,  and  is  considered  placeable  in  a  good  home . 

The  foster  mother  with  whom  Ruth  was  placed  free,  with  the  possibihty  of 
legal  adoption  some  years  later,  did  not  care  to  know  about  the  child's  history, 
as  she  did  not  beUeve  in  heredity.  She  said  that  she  might  some  time  wish  to 
know  Ruth's  history,  but  her  main  interest  was  in  the  personaUtyof  the  child 
herself.  The  agency  felt,  however,  that  it  was  not  fair  to  let  her  take  Ruth  with- 
out knowing  the  main  facts  of  her  history,  which  were  told  her.  It  is,  of  course, 
uncommon  to  find  a  family  willing  to  take  a  child  piu^ly  on  her  own  merits.  In 
this  case  the  agency  felt  justified  in  placing  Ruth  there  because  the  child's  de- 
velopment during  the  year  that  she  had  been  under  observation  in  institution 
and  boarding  home  had  been  normal  and  promising.  If  she  had  shown  marked 
retardation  the  agency  would  probably  have  hesitated  to  place  her,  even  with  a 
family  who  did  not  worry  about  family  history. 

Second  Case. — Child. — Richard  Emmons,  bom  July  7,  1910. 

Father. — Richard's  father  was  a  Swedish  chauffeur  of  whom  nothing  was 
known. 

Mother. — Anna  was  immoral,  and  since  the  birth  of  Richard  had  had  another 
child  by  a  different  man.  She  was  given  a  mental  test  in  New  York  April,  1911, 
Her  mental  age  was  under  ten,  and  she  would  probably  be  classed  as  a  moron. 
The  examiner  said:  "A  mind  of  a  primitive  order  and  of  moderate  energy  orig- 

[281 


inally,  operating  with  a  low  degree  of  self-restraint.  The  original  low  degree  of 
self-restraint  has  been  affected  by  anti-social  performances,  so  that  it  has  suffered 
an  injury  that  is  probably  permanent  and  possibly  progressive.  There  is  nothing 
to  warrant  the  behef  that  she  will  avoid  a  repetition  of  her  previous  performances 
unless  put  under  some  kind  of  restraint."  The  mother's  Wassermann  report  soon 
after  Richard's  birth  was  positive. 

Relatives,  Maternal. — The  mother's  parents  lived  in  a  comfortable  looking 
house  with  a  good  garden.  They  had  a  piano  and  very  good  furniture,  and  a  horse 
and  some  chickens.  The  man  earned  $1.75  a  day.  A  brother  of  Anna  was  con- 
sidered deUcate  and  not  very  bright. 

Richard  himself  was  a  child  of  unusual  charm  and  promise.  His  mental  ex- 
amination, made  January  1, 1916,  showed  him  to  be  of  normal  inteUigence.  The 
physical  examination  showed  some  heart  irregularity.  His  Wassermann  and 
gonococcal  infection  tests  were  both  negative.  He  was  given  an  examination  by  a 
specialist,  who  reported  a  slight  functional  heart  irregularity  but  no  valvular 
disease.    The  second  Wassermann  test,  made  by  this  doctor,  was  negative. 

Placement. — Richard  was  sent  on  a  visit,  on  trial,  to  the  family  of  an  architect, 
living  in  a  charming  remodeled  farm-house.  It  was  understood  that  he  would 
remain  until  they  could  decide  whether  they  wished  to  keep  him  permanently. 
They  were  given  all  the  facts  about  his  history.  They  wrote  soon  after  he  went 
to  them :  "  He  is  a  marvel  of  poise  and  charm  of  personality.  He  is  so  well  and  we 
feel  sure  he  began  to  gain  at  once.  I  think  he  will  show  very  marked  development 
right  along.  He  seemed  unusually  bright  mentally."  Later  on  they  reported  that 
he  seemed  unusually  inteUigent  and  rational.  "He  has  an  exceptionally  fine 
personality,  and  seems  quite  unspoilable.  A  physician  who  had  seen  him  recently 
said  the  child  was  as  perfect  physically  as  a  child  could  be.  Mentally  and  tem- 
peramentally he  is  thought  quite  unusual  by  every  one  who  has  come  in  contact 
with  him,  and  he  is  developing  satisfactorily.  He  is  instinctively  refined,  has  good 
perceptions,  and  is  sensitive."  Richard  has  continued  to  progress  satisfactorily 
and  the  family  are  now  discussing  adopting  him  legally. 

In  this  case  the  personality  of  Richard  was  the  factor  which  decided 
the  family  to  take  the  risk  of  trying  him.  If  he  had  been  a  less  attrac- 
tive boy,  it  is  probable  that  his  heredity  would  have  stood  in  his  way. 
In  cases  like  this  the  visiting  arrangement  is  often  successful,  as  the 
family  do  not  feel  bound  and  are  able  to  make  their  decision  in  a 
leisurely  way,  and  after  close  and  natural  observation.  Such  an  ar- 
rangement should  not,  of  course,  be  tried  unless  the  presimaption  is 
strong  that  it  will  prove  permanent,  as  the  break  later  is  extremely 
hard  on  both  the  child  and  the  parents. 

Needless  to  say,  not  all  children  with  family  histories  of  this  type 
develop  so  normally  and  satisfactorily.  There  is  necessarily  a  certain 
proportion  of  failures.  The  following  case  illustrates  such  a  history 
and  such  a  failure — a  child  removed  by  court  order  from  her  own 

[29] 


wretched  home,  given  expert  care  and  medical  attention  before  place- 
ment, placed  for  ten  months  in  an  excellent  country  home,  and  finally 
removed  from  the  list  of  childrwi  suitable  for  adoption. 

Third  Case. — Clara  Michaels,  bom  February  3,  1915. 

Father. — Anton  Michaels,  a  fisherman.  Extremely  alcohohc;  sentenced 
fifteen  times  in  the  poUce  court.  Spent  the  winter  following  Clara's  birth  in  the 
penitentiary  for  disorderly  conduct  and  non-support.  Served  six  months,  a  year 
later,  for  attacking  his  wife  with  a  knife  when  she  was  in  bed  with  influenza.  Beat 
his  wife  and  children.  Never  supported  his  family,  but  spent  his  earnings  for 
himself. 

Mother. — Emma  Field  Michaels,  married  at  eighteen,  after  seeing  Michaels 
only  three  times.  He  had  just  finished  serving  a  term  for  beating  his  mother. 
She  was  an  easy-going,  slovenly  housekeeper.  She  would  buy  candy  instead  of 
food.  Never  washed  the  children's  clothes.  Neglected  her  children  frightfully, 
but  was  forced  to  go  out  to  work  to  support  them.  Immoral;  had  an  illegitimate 
child  while  Anton  was  serving  one  of  his  jail  sentences,  and  continued  her 
immoral  relations  after  the  children  were  removed  from  her  care. 

Child's  Personal  History. — ^A  twin,  born  at  home,  in  a  filthy  room  with  no  fire 
in  it;  no  blankets  or  towels  in  the  house.  Irregularly  fed  on  condensed  milk; 
had  no  clothes,  but  lay  all  day  wrapped  in  a  dirty  quilt.  Left  alone  for  hours. 
When  she  was  fourteen  months  old  she  weighed  only  10  pounds,  was  unable  to  lift  her 
head,  cried  with  pain  whenever  she  was  moved,  and  had  a  white,  expressionless 
face.    Boarded  for  a  year  under  supervision  of  a  nurse. 

Placement. — At  the  age  of  three  Clara  was  placed  in  an  unusually  fine  farm 
home,  with  a  family  who  had  brought  up  another  baby  placed  by  the  agency. 
At  that  time  she  was  active,  in  good  condition  physically,  and  seemed  normal, 
except  for  her  unusually  large  head  and  protuberant  forehead.  She  had  had  a 
negative  Wassermann  test.  The  family  were  informed  of  her  history  and  previous 
physical  condition  before  they  took  her. 

She  remained  here  ten  months,  and  was  returned  by  the  family  because  they 
"had  no  affection  for  her"  and  found  it  impossible  to  train  her.  It  was  difficult 
to  teach  her  the  simplest  things.  She  had  not  learned  to  talk  at  all  plainly,  and 
made  "queer"  faces  continually. 

For  four  months  after  this  Clara  was  kept  under  observation  in  a  boarding 
home  and  visited  also  by  a  nurse.  Her  mental  examination  showed  a  year's  re- 
tardation. "  Her  reactions  in  general  are  odd.  In  the  midst  of  a  spell  of  weeping 
a  few  words  of  reproach  will  set  her  laughing  immoderately.  Her  speech  is  very 
indistinct.  She  does  not  seem  able  to  form  sentences."  Her  boarding  mother 
said  Clara  was  "silly."  She  drooled  continually,  and  kept  two  fingers  in  her 
mouth.  She  was  very  imitative,  stubborn,  and  nearly  impossible  to  train  in  habits 
of  cleanliness.  Her  speech  remained  defective,  and  the  few  remarks  she  made  were 
usually  meaningless. 

Although  her  mental  retardation  was  not  extreme,  and  might  be  due  partly 
to  neglect,  nevertheless  her  abnormally  large  head,  pecuUar  appearance,  and  her 
"silly"  behavior  indicated  that  she  was  too  unpromising  to  be  placed.  She  was 
returned  to  the  care  of  the  local  poor  law  official,  with  the  recommendation  that 
she  be  placed  in  a  boarding  home  for  further  observation. 

[30] 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  SELECTION  OF  HOMES 

The  choice  of  foster  homes  has  already  been  thoroughly  discussed  in 
Monograph  No.  1  of  this  series.*  As  that  study  is  concerned  largely 
with  boarding  homes,  and  as  the  work  of  this  agency  is  almost  entirely 
that  of  free  home  placing,  it  has  been  thought  worth  while  to  discuss 
here  some  special  aspects  of  the  choice  of  free  foster  homes,  based  on 
the  experience  of  this  agency. 

When  we  place  a  child  in  a  free  foster  home  we  feel  that  if  every- 
thing goes  well  he  will  be  a  member  of  that  family  for  life.  We  have, 
therefore,  a  sense  of  permanence  about  the  arrangement.  Consequently 
we  tend  to  transfer  responsibility  for  the  child  from  the  agency  to  the 
family.  It  is  true  that  until  he  is  of  age  or  legally  adopted  the  foster 
child  is  actually  a  ward  of  the  agency.  Nevertheless,  the  agency  pre- 
fers not  to  stress  that  fact,  except  in  certain  crises  of  supervision.  It 
tries  to  give  both  child  and  family  the  sense  that  the  child  belongs, 
first  and  last,  to  the  family.  It  will  not  remove  the  child  from  his 
foster  home  unless  the  foster  parents  insist  upon  it  or  imless  the  child's 
interests  will  suffer  if  he  stays  there.  The  agency  leaves  to  the  initia- 
tive and  discretion  of  the  family  practically  all  plans  for  the  child. 
For  example,  suggestions  for  medical  care,  education,  or  for  changes 
in  the  household  arrangements  are  rarely  made  by  agents  visiting  chil- 
dren in  free  homes. 

Bearing  in  mind,  then,  that  the  free  home  presents  a  long  vista  in 
the  child's  life,  we  should  make  our  preliminary  examination  of  it  with 
minuteness  and  foresight.    The  probabiUty  that  the  family  will  ulti- 


*"The  Selection  of  Foster  Homes  for  Children,"  by  Mary  S.  Doran  and 
Bertha  C.  Reynolds,  of  the  Boston  Children's  Aid  Society.  Published  by  the 
New  York  School  of  Social  Work,  105  East  22d  Street,  New  York.  Price,  35 
cents. 


31] 


mately  adopt  the  child,  thereby  cutting  loose  from  the  society,  is  a 
crucial  factor.  Because  of  it,  we  need  to  know  not  only  the  family's 
past  and  present  life:  we  must  as  far  as  possible  foresee  their  future^ 
the  results  of  their  influence  on  the  child  twenty  years  hence,  and 
their  household  life  ten  years  from  now,  when  the  child  has  become 
an  estabUshed  member  of  it. 
NJ  Investigations  of  Free  Homes. — ^There  is  a  minimum  of  fact  in- 
formation which  must  be  secured  concerning  all  homes.  This  includes 
the  nimiber  and  sex  of  the  members  of  the  family;  their  health,  occu- 
pations, reUgion,  age,  and  their  habits  and  reputations;  their  experi- 
ence with  children;  the  family  income,  insurance,  investments,  and 
financial  condition  in  general;  the  location  and  condition  of  the 
house;  and  the  family's  standing  in  the  neighborhood,  as  it  is  reported 
by  reliable  members  of  the  community.  No  investigation  can  be  ade- 
quate which  fails  to  get  these  basic  facts.  No  amount  of  personal 
opinion  on  the  part  of  the  agent,  no  estimate  of  what  the  home  offers 
to  a  child,  can  be  sound  and  trustworthy  unless  it  is  firmly  grounded  on 
this  essential  knowledge.  These  facts  do  not  represent  the  sum  total 
of  the  information  that  we  need,  but  they  form  the  indispensable 
foundation  for  it.  The  references,  as  well  as  the  family,  are  always 
visited  by  the  investigator. 

Facts  of  Personality. — ^When  all  these  facts  about  the  family  have 
been  secured,  it  is  well  to  say  to  oneself,  **How  much  do  we  really 
know  about  this  family?"  It  is  possible  to  have  page  after  page  of 
information  about  a  home  which,  though  close  packed  with  facts,  will 
give  no  impression  of  the  family  life.  We  want  to  know  not  only  what 
the  family  income  is  and  how  many  beds  there  are  in  the  house,  and 
whether  the  family  are  regular  church-goers:  we  must  know  in  addi- 
tion their  ideals,  their  ambitions  for  the  child,  their  ability  to  see  his 
point  of  view,  the  understanding  between  husband  and  wife,  and,  so 
far  as  it  can  be  gauged,  what  difference  a  child  will  make  in  their  rela- 
tions to  each  other.  Knowledge  of  the  kind  of  childhood  which  they 
have  had  will  often  throw  light  on  the  kind  of  childhood  which  they 
will  create  for  their  adopted  child.  How  often  a  foster  father  will  say, 
**I  never  had  a  chance  to  go  to  school,  but  I  mean  to  give  my  boy  the 

[321 


best  education  going,'*  or,  "My  father  used  to  lick  me  and  I  made  up 
my  mind  then  that  if  I  ever  had  a  boy  he  wouldn't  be  licked." 

It  is  fully  as  important  to  know  of  a  man  whether  he  is  patient  and 
even  tempered  as  to  know  whether  he  works  steadily  or  whether  he 
owns  his  house.  It  is  more  important  to  know  of  a  woman  that  she  is 
easy  going  and  indecisive  than  that  she  is  a  careless  housekeeper.  A 
child  may  grow  up  to  be  a  satisfactory  citizen  in  an  untidy  household, 
but  he  has  a  poor  chance  of  it  if  his  foster  mother  changes  her  mind 
about  what  he  must  or  must  not  do  every  day  or  so.  It  will  make  a 
vast  difference  in  the  later  supervision  whether  the  foster  mother  is 
resourceful  and  self-reliant,  or  whether  she  is  the  kind  of  woman  who 
must  run  into  the  ojfice  every  week  or  two  to  ask  what  she  can  do  with 
little  Ruth,  who  will  tell  fibs.  If  a  foster  father  is  going  to  be  diffi- 
cult to  deal  with  in  the  event  of  trouble,  it  is  well  to  know  that  be- 
forehand. If  either  foster  parent  is  intensely  jealous,  there  will 
probably  be  trouble  in  the  household  when  a  child  is  placed  there. 

One  home  failed  entirely,  although  beforehand  it  had  every  ap- 
pearance of  being  thoroughly  satisfactory,  because  the  foster  mother, 
an  intensely  affectionate  and  demonstrative  woman,  demanded  of  the 
child,  quite  unconsciously,  more  affection  than  he  could  possibly  give. 
The  child,  a  self-contained  little  boy  who  remembered  his  own  mother, 
could  not  so  quickly  transfer  his  affection  to  his  new  mother,  and  grew 
strained  and  unhappy  and  in  consequence  disobedient.  The  woman 
was  not  able  to  meet  the  situation  any  better  than  the  child,  and  it 
was  finally  necessary  to  remove  him.  If  it  had  been  realized  before- 
hand that  she  wanted  a  high  degree  of  affection  from  a  child,  it  would 
no  doubt  have  been  possible  to  find  the  right  child  for  her.  Facts 
about  these  intimate  traits  of  personality  are  quite  as  important  as — 
one  might  say  even  more  important  than — ^the  other  information 
which  is  always  secured.  It  is,  moreover,  very  naturally  the  hardest  ^ 
kind  of  information  to  get,  involving  as  it  does  keen,  close,  and  unpre- 
judiced observation  on  the  part  of  the  investigator,  and  the  asking  of 
questions  which  to  the  applicant  and  the  references  may  easily  seem 
irrelevant  and  prying. 

Unsuccessful  Placements. — Many  children's  agencies  would  find, 
3  [33  1 


if  they  examined  the  record  of  their  unsuccessful  placements,  that  the 
failure  was  due,  in  cases  where  the  family  was  at  fault,  not  so  much  to 
ignorance  of  the  material  circumstances  as  to  ignorance  of  the  tem- 
peraments of  the  foster  parents.   It  seems  to  us  much  more  common  to 
have  a  home  turn  out  badly  because  the  wife  is  jealous  of  her  hus- 
band's affection  for  the  adopted  daughter  or  because  a  strong-willed 
child  refuses  to  be  dominated  by  a  bullying  foster  father  than  because 
it  is  later  discovered  that  the  foster  father  has  tuberculosis  or  the 
family  fail  to  pay  their  bills.    The  placement  of  a  child  in  a  family  in- 
volves changes  quite  as  serious  for  the  family  as  for  the  child,  and  the 
mere  fact  that  people  are  grown  up  does  not  mean  that  they  have  con- 
trol over  their  likes  or  disUkes.    Therefore  it  is  essential  to  have  some 
idea  as  to  how  the  entrance  of  a  child  into  the  household  is  going  to 
affect  the  family  Hfe.    One  must  remember  that  people  who  adopt 
children  have  wanted  them  intensely,  and  have  often  perhaps  idealized 
them,  and  in  most  cases  are  expecting  great  things  of  them.    With 
people  who  are  tolerant  and  open  minded  there  is  little  danger  in  their 
having  thought  out  every  detail  of  the  child's  future :  where  he  is  to 
go  to  school  and  college,  what  prof ession  he  will  follow,  what  friends 
he  will  make,  what  he  will  read,  what  his  tastes  will  be.    Such  people 
will  adapt  themselves  to  the  child's  developing  personality,  and  if  he 
prefers  being  a  plumber  to  being  a  poet,  they  will  accept  it  cheerfully 
and  send  him  to  a  technical  school.    But  with  people  of  set  tastes  and 
imyielding  will  this  kind  of  plan  and  foresight  is  full  of  pitfalls.    They 
will  try  to  force  the  child  into  their  pattern  of  hfe,  instead  of  watching 
him  and  discovering  and  encouraging  his  natural  aptitudes.    Such  a 
process  is  bound  to  prove  disastrous,  as  the  records  of  any  child-plac- 
ing agency  will  show.    Either  the  child  is  unhappy  and  repressed  or  he 
is  actively  disobedient.    The  strain  is  bound  to  show  in  him  in  some 
way  that  produces  friction  and  often  leads  to  a  break.    It  is  too  much 
to  hope  that  in  any  but  the  rarest  cases  such  a  family  can  be  given  a 
child  who  will  not  disappoint  them  in  most  of  their  cherished  projects. 
Family's  Reason  for  Desiring  a  Child. — In  this  connection  it  is  im- 
portant to  know  why  the  foster  family  want  to  take  a  child.    The  an- 
swer to  this  question  may  be  a  simple  one — the  lack  of  children  of 

f  34  1 


their  own,  love  for  children,  loneliness — but  it  is  often  made  up  of 
complicated  motives.  One  woman,  calling  at  the  office  to  ask  about 
getting  a  child,  admitted  on  being  questioned  that  her  husband  had 
told  her  that  he  was  tired  of  supporting  a  home  just  for  her,  and  that  if 
she  could  not  secure  a  child  within  a  week  he  would  leave  her.  Though 
this  is  an  extreme  instance,  there  are  in  the  experience  of  any  child 
placing  agency  a  number  of  similar  cases;  women  who  feel  that  their 
hold  on  their  husband's  afifections  will  be  strengthened  by  the  presence 
of  a  child  in  the  family,  men  whose  wives  are  restless  and  discontented 
and  who,  they  think,  will  "settle  down"  if  they  have  a  child  to  care 
for.  Such  motives  for  adoption,  though  they  may  enlist  sympathy, 
are  open  to  the  profoundest  distrust.  The  axiom,  "Do  not  place  a 
child  in  a  home  to  reform  the  home, "  has  sound  common  sense  behind 
it.  Two  people  whose  relations  are  so  precarious  that  they  must  have 
a  third  person  in  the  household  to  make  life  together  possible  are  not 
the  people  to  deal  wisely  with  the  dehcate  problems  of  a  child's  up- 
bringing. They  are  themselves  too  insecure  and  puzzled  to  be  able  to 
guide  any  one  else.  It  should  be  remembered,  in  addition,  that  if  re- 
lations between  husband  and  wife  are  strained,  the  presence  of  a  new 
and  often  disturbing  third  person  in  the  family  is  quite  as  Ukely  to 
precipitate  trouble  as  to  mitigate  it. 

Friction  in  the  Household. — Very  often  a  woman  will  say  that  her 
husband  "doesn't  care"  if  she  takes  a  child;  that  he  says  that  "it  is 
up  to  her."  In  such  cases  a  thoroughgoing  discussion  with  the  hus- 
band is  imperative.  Very  often  his  apparent  indifference  means  merely 
that  he  prefers  to  leave  the  choice  of  the  child  to  his  wife;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  frequently  develops  that  he  is  at  bottom  opposed  to  the 
plan,  thinking  that  it  is  too  costly  or  that  his  wife  is  too  unstable  or 
that  his  family  will  object,  and  that  he  lacks  the  courage  to  tell  his 
wife  so  openly.  A  placement  made  under  such  conditions  obviously 
has  small  chance  of  success. 

The  essential  condition  of  a  successful  placement  is  undoubtedly  a 
good  understanding  between  the  foster  parents.  Agreement  on  the 
fundamentals  of  child  training,  a  conmion  impulse,  the  mutual  tol- 


35 


erance  which  can  weather  domestic  storms,  are  all  basic  necessities. 
No  investigation  can  be  adequate  which  fails  to  get  at  these  facts. 

It  is  always  valuable  to  know  of  any  family  what  member  has  the 
strongest  personality.  It  is  that  person  with  whom  you  will  have  to 
deal  in  supervision  and  that  person  whose  influence  on  the  family  Ufe 
and  on  the  child's  development  will  be  most  decisive. 

Agreement  Between  Family  and  Agency. — The  foster  family,  after 
they  have  taken  the  child  into  their  home,  are  required  by  this  agency 
to  sign,  in  duplicate,  a  statement  of  their  obligations  fb  the  agency 
and  the  child.  This  statement,  a  printed  form,  drawn  up  by  the 
agency,  includes  among  other  things,  their  promise  to  send  the  child 
regularly  to  school,  for  at  least  as  long  a  period  as  the  state  law  re- 
quires, to  give  him  rehgious  training,  to  make  him  in  every  way  a 
member  of  the  family  and  to  furnish  medical  care  and  suitable  cloth- 
ing. They  promise  also  not  to  transfer  the  child  to  the  custody  of 
any  other  person  without  the  consent  of  the  agency.  On  its  side, 
the  agency  promises  not  to  remove  the  child  from  the  family  unless 
conditions  in  the  home  are  later  found  to  be  injurious  to  the  welfare 
of  the  child.  Until  legal  adoption  takes  place  or  until  the  child  is  of 
age,  the  Association  remains  in  the  position  of  legal  guardian  to  the 
child.  The  agent  is  expected  to  explain  this  to  the  family  during  the 
investigation. 

Explaining  Future  Supervision. — In  making  the  first  call  upon  the 
foster  family  the  agent  should  prepare  the  way  for  the  subsequent 
visits  of  supervision.  She  should  explain  the  agency's  method  of  keep- 
ing in  touch  with  its  foster  children,  and  enlist  the  family's  friendly  in- 
terest in  the  arrangement.  She  may  approach  the  question  from  the 
point  of  the  possible  help  which  the  agency  can  give  the  family — for 
instance,  in  advising  them  about  doctors  and  schools.  Some  famiUes 
who  submit  to  the  original  investigation  may  balk  at  supervision; 
they  don't  want  any  one  ''poking  into "  their  family  affairs.  Of  course 
they  know  how  to  bring  up  a  child — they  wouldn't  be  asking  for  one  if 
they  didn't.  Such  an  attitude  bodes  ill  for  friendliness  between 
agency  and  family,  and  should  certainly  be  set  straight  before  the 
child  is  placed.     Most  families,  however,  are  glad  to  know  that  the 

136] 


visitor  will  keep  track  of  the  child  and  that  they  may  call  upon  the 
society  for  advice. 

Explaining  Adoption. — ^At  the  same  time  the  visitor  should  discuss 
adoption  with  the  foster  parents,  explaining  the  length  of  time  which 
must  elapse  between  placement  and  adoption  and  what  the  procedure 
is.  She  should  make  it  clear  that  the  family  are  not  obHged  to  adopt, 
and  that  the  agency  is  not  compelled  to  give  its  consent  for  adoption. 

Explaining  Possible  Difficulties  with  the  Child. — Many  famihes 
applying  for  children  have  no  idea  of  the  wretchedness  of  the  child's 
own  home,  of  the  appalling  sights  which  may  be  burned  in  on  his 
memory,  of  the  long  patient  training  that  may  be  needed  to  offset 
years  of  neglect  and  misery.  Telling  the  foster  parents  too  much  of 
this  may  shock  them  or  alarm  them  so  that  they  will  drop  their  idea 
of  taking  a  child.  But  they  should  certainly  understand  something  of 
it,  otherwise  the  child's  faults  will  seem  to  them  superhumanly  bad 
and  they  will  have  no  understanding  of  what  suffering  may  lie  back 
of  them  in  his  mind.  The  visitor  should  certainly  explain  to  them  / 
that  the  great  majority  of  these  children  have  lacked  training  not  only 
in  table  manners,  but  in  the  rudiments  of  decent  Hving;  that  they  have 
been  hungry,  cold,  and  half-naked  most  of  their  lives.  The  family 
should  understand  that  they  cannot  expect  to  get  a  child  who  will 
be  suitable  in  every  way  for  introduction  to  their  friends  and  family 
the  first  Sunday  after  his  arrival,  nor  a  child  who  will  show  only  the 
usual  naughtiness  of  childhood.  They  should  be  prepared  to  deal  with 
real  difficulties.  This  should  usually  be  explained  to  them  con- 
cretely.  **  How  do  you  feel  about  deahng  with  a  child  who  may  steal?' ' 

There  is  another  side  to  this  preliminary  warning.  Not  only  is  the 
family  thus  prepared,  but  the  agency  knows  what  it  may  expect  from 
the  family.  If  a  foster  mother  is  startled  and  shocked  at  the  idea  of  a 
child  who  steals, — "Oh,  I  wouldn't  want  a  had  child,"— the  agency 
has  some  idea  about  the  kind  of  child  who  would  get  on  in  that  home. 

That  foster  families  have  sometimes  astonishingly  Uttle  imagination 
about  the  past  hves  of  these  dependent  children  was  shown  recently, 
when  a  foster  mother  was  talking  with  a  girl  of  nine  whom  she  was 
considering  taking.   The  foster  mother  had  been  told  something  of  the 

[371 


child's  story:  a  decent  mother  had  died  in  childbirth,  a  father  who 
spent  most  of  his  wages  in  drink,  a  poor  home  and  a  big  family.  As  she 
shook  hands  with  the  child,  the  foster  mother  remarked  disapprov- 
ingly, '*  Haven't  you  been  taught  to  curtsy  when  you  are  intro- 
duced to  people?"  This  child  had  been  with  the  younger  children 
alone  in  the  house  while  her  mother  died  and  her  drunken  father  was 
on  a  spree;  she  had  mothered  the  two  terrified  little  brothers  until  the 
neighbors  could  get  there.  But  she  hadn't  learned  to  curtsy!  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  this  woman  made  a  complete  failure  with  a 
very  promising  girl  when  she  later  took  her  into  her  home. 

Choice  of  Neighborhood. — The  agent  making  her  first  examina- 
tion of  a  possible  foster  home  should  explore  somewhat  the  character 
and  possibilities — ^bad  or  good — of  its  neighborhood.  Generally 
speaking,  a  home  which  is  good  enough  is  in  a  neighborhood  which  is 
good  enough,  but  some  decent  families  may  live  in  so  unsuitable  a 
place  that  their  application  must  be  refused;  overcrowded  slums,  for 
instance,  or  remote  country  places  where  the  people  have  degenerated, 
or  districts  where  the  school  faciUties  are  hopelessly  inadequate. 

A  danger  of  frequent  occurrence  in  choosing  foster  homes  is  that  of 
being  taken  in  by  the  foster  home  thatf  offers  undoubted  material  ad- 
vantages, but  material  advantag;^s  oniy.  Every  placing-out  agency 
must  be  familiar  with  this  kind^/bf  family:  well  to  do,  able  to  give  a 
child  every  worldly  advantage,  but  lacking  in  judgment,  ideals  and 
soundness.  The  friends  of  such  a  family  and  the  family  themselves  are 
always  loud  in  their  admiration  of  the  advantages  that  will  surround 
any  child  placed  there.  It  is  often  hard  to  resist  such  an  offer,  al- 
though one's  better  judgment  tells  one  that  for  most  children  there  is 
greater  safety  in  the  long  run  in  a  simpler  home  where  there  is  com- 
mon sense  and  a  conservative  standard  of  morals. 

"Risky"  Placements. — ^All  these  considerations  bring  us  to  the 
question,  "Should  one  make  placements  which  may  prove  failures?" 
This  is  one  of  the  challenging  problems  of  child  care,  and  the  answer 
to  it  cannot  be  a  straightforward  "yes"  or  "no." 

It  would  doubtless  be  granted  by  all  child-placing  agencies  that 
every  placement  is  a  risk,  both  for  family  and  child.    No  combination 

[38] 


of  human  beings  in  an  intimate  relationship  can  be  made  without  risk. 
Never  can  one  say  absolutely  that  such  and  such  a  child  is  sxire  to  be  a 
success  in  such  and  such  a  home.  What  those  risks  are  has  already 
been  discussed;  the  family  may  demand  an  impossible  response  from 
the  child,  either  emotionally  or  intellectually,  and  be  incapable  of 
adapting  their  demands  to  the  child's  capacity;  there  may  be  jealousy 
or  a  conflict  of  wills  between  husband  and  wife  over  the  training  of  the 
child;  incompatibility  of  temperament  may  develop  between  the  child 
and  his  parents  as  he  grows  older;  the  discipHne  may  be  so  lax  that  the 
child  becomes  entirely  self-willed  and  self-indulgent,  or  it  may  be  so 
strict  that  the  child  is  repressed  and  unhappy.  Or  the  child  may  prove 
so  difficult  that  his  training  is  a  constant  strain  on  his  parents.  All 
these  risks  are  latent  in  nearly  every  placement,  and  the  best  that  one 
can  do  is  to  know  the  family  and  the  child  as  thoroughly  as  possible 
beforehand  and  to  try  to  choose  the  safest  home  for  each  child. 

Since  any  placement — even  in  the  best  of  homes — ^has  in  it  the  seeds 
of  failure,  it  seems  tempting  fate  to  choose  deliberately  a  doubtful 
home.  One's  principle  should  certainly  be  to  use  only  the  homes  pre- 
senting the  minimum  of  risk.  There  are  two  sides  to  this  hesitation; 
the  family's  and  the  child's.  However  mixed  may  have  been  the 
motives  which  induced  a  family  to  take  a  child  in  the  first  place,  they 
usually  end  by  developing  a  sincere  affection  for  him.  It  is  a  truism 
that  a  genuine  and  intense  love  of  children  is  compatible  with  dis- 
honesty, hardness,  and  vice.  The  family  may,  after  one  has  decided 
to  take  the  risk  and  placed  a  child  with  them,  develop  any  number  of 
flagrant  faults  and  still  be  sincerely  devoted  to  the  child.  If  the  child 
has  to  be  removed  later,  they  will  undoubtedly  suffer.  Especially  in 
homes  where  the  husband  and  wife  may  have  disagreed  beforehand  is 
the  wrench  severe.  Moreover,  there  is  the  sense  of  possession  that 
normally  develops.  The  foster  parents  feel  that  the  child  belongs  to 
them,  and  it  is  unthinkable  to  them  that  he  should  be  taken  away.  It 
is  unfair  to  subject  any  family  to  this  strain  if  it  can  be  foreseen  and 
avoided.  Better  to  refuse  their  application  in  the  first  place,  although 
they  may  say,  "Give  us  a  trial  and  if  you  are  not  satisfied  at  the  end 
of  six  months  you  can  take  the  child  back."    It  is  obvious  that  they 

[39] 


would  protest  vehemently  if  the  society  took  them  at  their  word  and 
removed  the  child  at  the  end  of  six  months. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  the  child's  side  of  the  matter  to  be  con- 
sidered. It  is  natural  for  a  child,  particularly  a  little  child,  to  take 
root  quickly,  even  in  a  home  where  he  may  be  unhappy  or  unkindly 
treated.  His  instinct  is  to  stay  where  he  is  rather  than  to  risk  other 
dangers  in  a  strange  environment.  To  uproot  him  is  to  unsettle  him 
profoundly,  to  make  him  distrust  you  and  people  in  general,  and  to 
throw  him  back  into  his  former  feeling  of  regret  at  leaving  his  own 
home. 

There  are  certain  generalizations  which  one  can  make  about  when 
to  risk  and  when  not  to  risk  a  placement  about  which  one  is  uncertain. 
There  are  so  many  more  homes  available  for  all  young  children  of  fair 
history  than  there  are  children  available  that  there  is  no  reason  for 
using  a  home  which  may  turn  out  badly.  In  fact,  for  almost  all  the 
normal  and  fairly  attractive  children  there  are  enough  reasonably  safe 
and  good  homes.  There  is  one  exception  to  this,  and  that  is  the 
scarcity  of  homes  for  boys  between  seven  and  twelve.  In  their  case 
one  may  feel  forced  to  use  a  home  which  presents  some  undesirable 
features,  for  the  simple  reason  that  no  other  home  is  open.  But  for 
some  tjTDes  of  children,  for  example,  those  of  umpromising  history,  of 
imattractive  personality,  of  limited  possibilities,  the  doubtful  home 
may  be  the  only  alternative  to  an  institution.  In  such  a  case  it  usually 
seems  fairer  to  the  child  to  give  him  a  chance  in  a  home  which,  doubt- 
ful as  it  may  be,  is  yet  closer  to  actual  life  than  the  artificial  environ- 
ment of  the  institution,  for  he  may  have  in  such  a  home  a  better 
chance  of  preparation  for  living. 

Records  of  Foster  Home  Investigations 
An  Approved  Home. — The  home  which  is  described  as  follows  is  a 
good  example  of  the  best  tj^pe  of  foster  home — not  wealthy,  but  sub- 
stantial and  sound: 

Application  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hasbrouck. 

Home. — ^The  apartment  is  on  one  of  the  main  streets,  nearly  opposite  the  pub- 
lic library.    It  is  over  a  block  of  stores.    The  entrance  has  been  kept  clean,  and 

[40] 


the  brick  is  still  comparatively  fresh,  though  the  white  plastered  walls  are  some- 
what soiled.  The  apartment  is  on  the  third  floor,  and  well  planned  and  convenient 
in  every  way.  There  are  six  rooms  and  bath;  it  is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted 
by  electricity.  It  is  Ught  and  well  ventilated.  It  has  hardwood  floors,  but  is 
furnished  in  an  inexpensive  way,  in  simple  good  taste.  They  have  a  piano  and  a 
victrola.    It  is  well  kept  up  in  every  particular. 

For  the  last  few  years  they  have  rented  a  cottage  at Beach,  where  they 

have  one  of  a  group  of  cottages  on  a  farm  and  spend  the  entire  summer.  Mr. 
Hasbrouck  goes  back  and  forth  to  business  in  his  Dodge  car.  The  cottage  has 
modern  conveniences,  but  is  furnished  in  a  very  simple  way. 

Occupations. — Mr.  Hasbrouck  has  always  been  in  the  hardware  business. 
He  worked  his  way  up  from  the  time  he  was  a  boy  and  for  the  last  five  years  has 

been  a  member  of  the  firm  of and , Main  Street, .  This  is  a  first 

class  firm  and  has  a  good  trade.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  expects  the  firm  to  dissolve  in 
the  fall,  and  he  is  going  to  have  the  entire  business.  He  estimates  his  net  income 
at  about  $5000  a  year,  and  says  the  stock  in  the  business  is  worth  about  $2500. 
He  has  no  other  investments.  He  carries  about  $11,000  life  insurance.  They 
do  not  own  any  real  estate.    Mrs.  Hasbrouck  has  never  been  in  business. 

History  and  Family. — Mrs.  Hasbrouck  is  an  American,  thirty-four  years  of 
age.  She  would  be  good  looking  only  she  is  too  stout.  She  has  regular  features, 
brown  hair  which  is  waved,  and  gray  eyes.  She  wore  a  simple  embroidered  blouse 
and  plaid  skirt.  She  is  not  well  educated,  but  has  refinement  and  uses  good  Eng- 
lish. She  has  a  good  deal  of  poise,  and  is  naturally  reserved  and  quiet  so  that  one 
does  not  feel  acquainted  with  her  in  one  visit.  She  seems  inteUigent  and  impresses 
one  as  a  capable,  practical  person.  She  is  positive  and  has  depth  of  feefing.  It 
was  hard  for  her  to  mention  her  baby  who  died.  She  is  not  at  all  temperamental 
or  emotional,  and  has  a  pleasing  personality.    She  seems  sincere  and  natural. 

Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  an  American,  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  He  is  well  built  and 
has  a  youthful,  boyish,  pleasant  face,  rather  prominent  rounded  features,  brown 
hair  and  gray  eyes.  He  is  slightly  bald.  He  is  particular  about  his  personal  ap- 
pearance. He  has  a  genial  manner,  it  is  evident  that  he  is  fond  of  children,  and 
agent  got  the  impression  that  he  understands  them  and  would  be  a  sort  of  big 
brother.  He  said  he  knows  it  is  quite  an  undertaking,  but  he  feels  it  is  worth 
while.  He  seems  simple  and  sincere;  a  good  alert  business  man  and  devoted  in 
his  family  circle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  had  one  son,  bom  two  years  ago,  who  only  lived 
twenty-four  hours.  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  had  a  hard  time  when  the  baby  was  bom, 
and  the  child  was  not  strong  enough  to  live.  She  says  she  has  recently  had  an 
examination,  and  her  physician  knows  of  no  reason  why  she  should  not  have  more 
children. 

Mrs.  Hasbrouck's  mother,  Mrs.  William  Davis,  makes  her  home  with  them. 
She  is  a  woman  between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age.  She  has  a  bright,  in- 
telligent face,  white  hair,  and  gray  eyes.  She  is  much  more  lively  than  her 
daughter,  and  is  quite  a  remarkable  woman  for  her  age.  She  is  bright  and  in- 
teresting to  talk  to,  and  evidently  comes  from  a  good  old-fashioned  family,  of 
which  she  is  very  proud.  She  feels  it  will  be  a  splendid  thing  for  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hasbrouck  to  take  a  child. 

Mrs.  Hasbrouck  was  born  in .    Her  father  is  dead.    He  owned  a  mill  in 

and  was  prominent  in  civic  affairs.    He  was  treasurer  in  one  of  the  municipal 

[411 


departments,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of 

Aldermen.    Mrs.  Davis  was  brought  up  in  the Convent, .    There  were 

three  children  in  the  family,  one  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood.  Mrs. 
Hasbrouck  had  two  years  in  High  School  and  then  specialized  in  music.  She 
was  a  student  at  the  Conservatory  of  Music  in ,  and  had  fine  violin  instruc- 
tion.   Her  brother  is  a  graduate  of  the Technical  Institute  and  an  engineer. 

Mr.  Hasbrouck  was  bom  in but  has  lived  in since  childhood.    He 

and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  grew  up  together.  His  father  is  a  cabinet  worker.  Mr. 
Hasbrouck  had  a  grammar  school  education  and  studied  music.  Two  of  his 
sisters  are  graduates  of  the Normal  School. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  were  married  February  1,  1907,  at ,  by  the  Rev. 

.     Mrs.  Hasbrouck's  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Davis,  and  it  is  the  only 

marriage  for  both.    After  marriage  they  lived  at ,  where  Mr.  Hasbrouck  had 

a  hardware  business.  They  have  lived  in  their  present  town  for  the  last  eight 
years. 

Mrs.  Hasbrouck's  brother,  Mr.  Walter  Davis,  is  an  engineer  in  the  South. 

Mr.  Hasbrouck's  brother,  George  Hasbrouck,  lives  at .     His  brother  Albert 

lives  in and  has  a  large  dry-goods  store.    His  sister  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 

,of . 

The  atmosphere  of  their  home  seems  most  harmonious.  Mrs.  Davis  spoke  of 
her  son-in-law's  consideration  for  her  and  she  evidently  thinks  as  much  of  him  as 
if  he  were  her  son.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  have  musical  tastes,  and  it  seems  to 
be  rather  a  complete  family  circle,  except  for  the  absence  of  children. 

They  are  all  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  a  tenor 
soloist  in  St.  John's  Church,  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  is  organist.    Mr.  Hasbrouck  is 

a  member  of  the Lodge  and  the Club.    They  are  both  athletic  and  enjoy 

outdoor  sports.  They  are  both  good  swimmers  and  Mr.  Hasbrouck  plays  golf. 
Mrs.  Hasbrouck  says  the  boys  are  so  fond  of  him  that  they  wait  until  he  gets 
there  at  night  to  go  swimming;  they  say  it  is  no  fim  without  him.  He  plays 
ball  with  all  the  children. 

Family's  Plan  for  Child. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  want  to  take  a  boy  be- 
tween the  ages  of  three  and  eight  for  adoption.  They  do  not  object  to  the  child 
being  a  foundhng  or  illegitimate.  They  would  like  to  know  as  much  as  they  can 
of  the  history,  but  feel  that  with  a  child  as  old  as  this  they  can  tell  pretty  well  how 
he  is  going  to  develop,  and  except  for  hereditary  diseases  or  mental  deficiency  or 
insanity,  would  probably  consider  one  of  average  history.  They  do  not  care 
particularly  for  the  student  type,  but  want  a  happy-natured,  responsive,  intelli- 
gent boy  who  would  be  refined  enough  to  take  into  their  home.  Mr.  Hasbrouck 
would  Hke  to  take  him  into  his  business,  but  would  want  the  boy  to  develop  along 
his  own  lines.  He  would  not  force  him  to  do  anything  that  was  not  interesting 
to  him.  They  would  want  to  give  him  a  High  School  education.  They  would 
like  him  to  join  the  church  choir. 

References. — Mrs.  WilUam  Downs,  Avenue,  ,  is  probably  Mrs. 

Hasbrouck's  most  intimate  friend.  She  lives  in  an  unpretentious  part  of  the 
town,  but  has  an  attractive  home.  She  and  her  husband  have  adopted  a  baby 
who  is  now  about  a  year  old.  Mrs.  Downs  has  known  the  family  for  five  or  six 
years,  and  sees  them  every  little  while.  She  spoke  very  highly  of  them,  and  thinks 
that  in  every  way  it  would  be  a  very  good  home  for  a  child.  She  says  they  both 
love  children,  and  that  waiting  so  many  years  for  them  and  then  losing  their  baby 

[42] 


has  been  most  hard  for  them.  Mrs.  Downs  considers  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  an  ex- 
ceedingly capable  person.  She  says  she  is  very  domestic.  She  is  quiet  and  re- 
served, and  it  took  Mrs.  Downs  some  time  to  know  her.  She  says  she  is  very 
sincere  and  warm  hearted  and  well  balanced.  She  seems  very  well  and  enjoys 
making  baby  clothes  for  her  friends'  babies.  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  comes  from  a  good 
family,  and  her  mother,  Mrs.  Davis,  is  an  interesting,  rather  remarkable  woman. 
Mr.  Hasbrouck  has  a  good  business,  is  Uvely  and  happy-natured,  and  has  a  much 
more  temperamental  disposition  than  his  wife,  who  has  a  very  even  disposition. 
All  the  children  are  fond  of  Mr.  Hasbrouck,  and  Mrs.  Downs  thinks  that  he  would 
make  a  very  good  father. 

Mr.  Henry  Robbins  is  with  the Title  and  Insurance  Company.     He  is  a 

real  estate  man.  His  office  is  at  the  corner  of  Main  Street.  He  is  a  middle-aged, 
intelligent  man.  He  says  Mr.  Hasbrouck  has  rented  his  store  from  him  for  five 
years  and  that  he  has  every  confidence  in  him.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  and  Mr.  Dean 
have  the  business  together,  Mr.  Dean  had  the  capital  to  start  it,  and  Mr.  Has- 
brouck has  been  his  sole  business  manager.  Mr.  Dean  is  a  very  "cranky"  man, 
and  it  takes  a  good  deal  of  tact  to  get  along  with  him.  Mr.  Robbins  understands 
that  the  firm  is  to  dissolve  and  that  Mr.  Hasbrouck  will  either  continue  it  or  start 
another  business.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  a  bright,  successful  man,  and  his  impressions 
of  him  have  been  favorable  in  every  way.  He  has  met  his  wife  a  few  times  and 
she  seems  a  motherly  person.     Further  than  this  he  knows  nothing  about  them. 

Independent    Reference. — Wife   of  Dr.    Peters,  Street,  .     Mrs. 

Peters  has  a  pleasant  apartment  on  the  second  floor  of  the  house  in  which  the 
Hasbroucks  Hve.  She  says  that  she  and  Dr.  Peters  have  known  the  Hasbroucks 
ever  since  they  have  hved  in  town.  She  has  Uved  in  the  house  with  them  about 
a  year,  and  feels  well  acquainted  with  them.  Dr.  Peters  took  care  of  Mr.  Has- 
brouck when  he  had  influenza.  She  and  Dr.  Peters  have  been  favorably  impressed 
with  the  family.  They  seem  to  be  nice  people.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  very  happy- 
natured;  they  usually  hear  him  whistling  when  he  comes  home.  Mrs.  Hasbrouck 
is  much  more  quiet  and  reserved.  She  has  felt  the  loss  of  her  baby  so  much  that 
she  can  hardly  touch  Mrs.  Peters'  child.  Mrs.  Peters  feels  that  their  standards 
of  hving  are  high,  and  that  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  would  make  a  capable  mother.  She 
spoke  well  of  Mrs.  Davis  also, 

Mr.  Lines,  of  the  Lines  and  Lines  Co. ,  has  known  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Has- 
brouck for  the  last  five  or  six  years,  both  in  a  business  way  and  socially.  His 
parents  have  been  more  intimate  with  them.     His  mother  used  to  be  an  4»ganist 

in  the church  and  Mr.  Hasbrouck  was  a  soloist.     He  sings  in  a  number  of 

churches.  Mr.  Lines  says  that  this  is  a  splendid  family;  every  one  likes  Mr. 
Hasbrouck  and  he  does  not  know  of  his  having  an  enemy.  He  and  Mr.  Dean 
have  had  the  business  together,  but  Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  now  buying  out  Mr.  Dean 
and  will  have  the  whole  business.  Mr.  Dean  has  been  very  difficult  to  get  along 
with,  and  Mr.  Lines  does  not  see  how  Mr.  Hasbrouck  has  managed  so  well.  Mr. 
Hasbrouck  is  a  man  of  high  principles  and  a  devoted  husband — absolutely 
temperate.  His  chief  diversion  is  his  music.  He  is  very  happy  natured  and  fond 
of  children.  Mr.  Lines  beUeves  he  would  be  a  good  father  and  that  Mrs.  Has- 
brouck would  make  a  good  mother.  She  seems  to  be  inteUigent  and  domestic 
and  sensible.  He  does  not  know  Mrs.  Hasbrouck's  mother.  Mr.  Lines  feels 
that  we  could  not  possibly  make  any  mistake  in  placing  a  child  with  them,  that 
it  would  be  well  brought  up  and  would  have  all  the  necessary  advantages. 

[43] 


Agent's  Opinion. — ^Agent  recommends  the  home  very  highly.  It  seems  to  be 
a  rather  unusual  chance  for  a  little  boy  where  he  will  be  brought  up  well  and  have 
a  most  happy  childhood.  Agent  thinks  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck  are  just  the 
right  type  of  people  to  make  good  parents. 


Probably  the  first  feature  of  this  investigation  to  strike  one  is  the 
discriminating  estimate  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck.  One  feels  that 
one  really  knows  what  sort  of  people  they  are,  how  they  would  behave 
in  a  crisis  and  in  every-day  affairs.  One  could  count  on  them.  Their 
tastes,  their  similarities  and  differences  of  temperament,  the  way  the 
neighbors  feel  about  them,  are  all  clearly  pictured.  Their  home  Ufe, 
the  tone  of  the  environment  in  which  the  child  will  grow  up,  is  sharply 
felt  by  the  agent,  and  in  consequence  plainly  stated.  The  necessary 
facts  are  given  regarding  income,  history,  etc.,  and  if  the  family  should 
unaccountably  disappear  some  day,  one  would  have  an  ample  number 
of  clues  by  which  to  trace  them.  If  it  should  become  necessary  some 
day  to  look  up  further  the  antecedents  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hasbrouck — 
and  this  may  happen  with  any  family,  however  good — ^there  are 
enough  connections  given  by  means  of  which  one  could  get  the  nec- 
essary facts.  Every  agency  has  doubtless  had  the  experience  of  need- 
ing suddenly  a  whole  new  set  of  facts  about  some  family.  In  such  a 
case  the  names  of  former  acquaintances,  of  previous  firms  with  which 
the  applicant  may  have  been  associated,  the  addresses  at  which  they 
formerly  lived,  the  standing  and  occupations  of  other  members  of 
their  famiUes,  have  proved  invaluable  guides.  In  this  case  it  would 
probably  be  possible  to  trace  the  movements  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hasbrouck  from  childhood  to  the  present  time.  It  is  well  to  remember 
in  investigating  the  best  of  homes  that  the  business  of  placing  children 
is  full  of  surprises — often  of  an  unpleasant  sort — and  that  no  amount 
of  experience  can  prepare  one  for  what  may  happen  next.  The  only 
safeguard  is  as  much  information  as  can  reasonably  be  assembled. 
Then,  if  something  goes  wrong,  one  has  the  facts  to  work  on. 

The  references  in  this  investigation  were,  of  course,  all  personally 
interviewed.  The  fact  that  two  were  men,  familiar  with  Hasbrouck's 
business  standing,  and  two  women,  familiar  with  the  home  life,  is  a 
strong  point.   Men  often  will  be  found  less  discriminating  than  women 

[44] 


on  the  important  points  of  the  personality  of  the  appUcants  and  on 
their  home  Hfe.  Women  naturally  are  not  usually  up  on  matters  of 
business  and  finance.  Both  are  necessary  as  complementary  refer- 
ences. These  references  are  not  only  well  informed,  but  reliable,  a  fact 
the  importance  of  which  cannot  be  overestimated.  Every  experienced 
investigator  will  spend  some  careful  thought  on  the  character  of  her 
references:  are  they  reliable,  well  informed,  prejudiced  by  some  per- 
sonal interest,  or  the  kind  of  people  who  **  never  speak  ill  of  any  one  "? 
Are  they  interested  in  seeing  the  family  get  a  child  to  the  exclusion  of 
their  interest  in  what  may  happen  to  the  child  in  that  home,  as  so 
frequently  is  the  case?  Ask  them  in  that  case  how  they  would  feel 
about  having  their  own  child  in  the  home  and  see  the  difference  in 
their  attitude.  It  might  be  good  enough  for  a  ''charity  child,"  but 
their  own  child — that  is  another  matter.  These  references  are  specific 
as  well.  Too  general  a  reference  may  be  dangerous — ^it  may  cover  a 
multitude  of  sins.  It  should  always  be  challenged  in  the  mind  of  the 
investigator.  Often  the  only  way  to  deal  with  this  tendency  on  the 
part  of  references — and  it  is  the  natural  way  for  many  people  to  re- 
spond— is  to  ask  specific  and  pointed  questions,  even  at  the  risk  of 
antagonizing  slightly.  But  it  can  usually  be  done  without  antagoniz- 
ing. It  is  not  a  sufficient  recommendation  when  the  reference  says, 
"Oh!  they  are  lovely  people.  You  won't  make  any  mistake  giving 
them  a  child.  They  are  awfully  fond  of  children.  It  would  be  a  fine 
home."  One  needs  to  know  in  addition  how  much  experience  they 
have  had  with  children,  how  they  get  on  together,  whether  the  neigh- 
bors like  them,  whether  they  pay  their  bills,  what  their  relatives  are 
like,  whether  they  are  even  tempered — ^in  short,  the  agent  will  wish  to 
confirm  almost  all  the  facts  and  impressions  which  she  has  received 
from  the  family  themselves. 

In  the  work  of  the  State  Charities  Aid  Association  it  has  been  found 
preferable  to  see  the  applicants  themselves  first  and  the  references 
later.*  The  value  of  this  order  lies  in  the  fact  that  it  then  is  possible 
for  the  agent  to  approach  the  family  with  an  unbiased  mind  and  to 


*  In  this  respect  the  work  of  this  agency  differs  from  that  of  some  other  agencies. 
See  Monograph  No.  1  of  this  series. 

[45] 


check  her  findings  later  by  the  evidence  of  the  references.  It  is  true 
that  by  this  method  it  is  sometimes  necessary  for  the  agent  to  go  back 
to  the  family  and  question  them  further  on  some  point  not  brought 
out  in  her  first  visit,  but  indicated  by  a  reference.  But  for  once  that 
she  has  to  do  this  there  will  probably  be  twenty  cases  where  the  other 
method  elicits  more  information. 

A  noteworthy  factor  in  this  investigation  is  the  focus  of  it.  It  will 
be  noticed  that  practically  everything  quoted  from  the  references 
bears  directly  on  how  they  think  a  child  will  get  on  in  this  home.  In 
other  words,  general  considerations  have  very  Uttle  place  in  the  agent's 
opinion;  she  keeps  steadily  in  mind  the  fact  of  the  child's  welfare. 
She  keeps  the  talk  strictly  on  the  point;  that  is,  how  will  the  char- 
acters and  circumstances  of  these  people  affect  the  life  of  the  child? 

The  report  which  follows  is  of  an  approved  home  and  is  quoted  in 
full.    The  written  references  were  satisfactory,  but  not  very  full. 

Application  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Gregory, Street,  N.  Y.  C. 

Family. — Mrs.  Gregory  is  a  Russian,  thirty  years  of  age.  She  is  a  slight, 
pretty  woman,  with  rather  small,  regular  features.  She  has  a  low  forehead,  soft 
brown  hau*,  and  hazel  eyes.  She  has  a  very  gentle,  eager  expression,  and  a  low, 
musical  voice.  She  is  of  the  refined  type,  and  seems  very  quiet  and  is  motherly 
in  the  highest  sense.  She  is  a  woman  of  a  great  deal  of  inteUigence  and  was  well 
educated  in  Russia.     Her  EngUsh  is  very  imperfect,  but  she  does  not  use  slang. 

Mr.  Gregory  is  a  Russian,  thirty-four  years  of  age.  He  is  a  man  of  rather 
small  stature,  regular  features,  curly  hair  which  is  shaved  close  except  for  one  lock 
in  front,  and  a  mustache  which  curls  on  the  ends.  He  has  an  interesting,  ani- 
mated face  and  poUshed  manners,  and  he  uses  very  good  English,  though  his 
vocabulary  is  Umited.  He  seems  to  be  an  energetic,  ambitious  man,  who  is  par- 
ticular and  strict,  but  very  good  natured  and  fond  of  his  family. 

Their  daughter,  Marie,  is  ten  years  of  age.  She  is  a  large  child,  with  blond 
hair  which  is  docked,  and  gray  eyes.  Marie  has  a  large  nose  and  is  not  of  as  re- 
fined a  type  as  her  parents.  She  looks  strong  and  healthy,  though  she  is  pale. 
She  is  very  bright  and  studious,  and  one  can  tell  she  is  well  brought  up.  She 
was  nicely  dressed  and  was  clean.  Marie  is  in  the  sixth  grade  in  school,  and  is 
one  of  four  children  who  has  recently  been  promoted  to  another  school  where 
they  will  take  the  last  two  grades  in  one  year. 

History. — Mrs.  Gregory  was  bom  in  the  southern  part  of  Russia.  She  is  a 
high  school  graduate  and  taught  in  grammar  school  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
Her  father  and  brothers  and  sisters  are  in  Russia.  Her  mother  is  dead.  Her 
father  had  a  large  farm;  one  brother  is  a  high  school  graduate  and  is  a  post  office 
clerk,  and  the  other  brother  is  in  high  school.  Mr.  Gregory  was  born  in  southern 
Russia.  He  had  a  high  school  education,  and  was  a  post  office  clerk  between 
seven  and  eight  years.    His  grandfather  and  father  were  both  priests  in  the 

146] 


Protestant  Church.  His  father  had  a  farm.  His  parents  and  brother  and  sister 
are  hving  in  Russia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gregory  were  married  May  22,  1905,  in 
Russia,  by  a  priest  in  the  Protestant  Church.  Before  leaving  Russia  Mr.  Gregory 
was  superintendent  of  the  postal  clerks  in  the  city  where  they  Uved.  Their 
house  was  given  to  them,  and  they  had  the  use  of  the  garage  and  kept  two  ser- 
vants. They  evidently  Uved  very  comfortably.  Mr.  Gregory  came  to  America 
in  1911,  and  his  wife  and  daughter  joined  him  in  March,  1913,  and  they  have  lived 
at  their  present  address  since  coming  here.  Mr.  Gregory  has  taken  out  his  first 
citizenship  papers.  He  has  found  it  hard  to  make  a  Hving  in  New  York  because 
of  his  inability  to  speak  English.  He  has  worked  in  different  laundries  on  collars 
and  cuffs.  A  little  more  than  a  year  ago  he  secured  work  in  Boston,  through 
friends,  as  an  inspector  earning  $50  a  week.  Owing  to  his  being  a  Russian  he  lost 
the  work,  as  the  Russians  were  no  longer  employed  in  this  capacity.  Mr.  Gregory 
is  attending  night  school  at  a  college  four  nights  a  week.  Agent  saw  a  certificate 
on  the  wall  showing  that  he  had  completed  a  course  in  mechanical  construction 
of  airplanes.  He  has  nearly  finished  the  course  in  physics.  His  ambition  is  to 
become  an  electrical  engineer. 

Home. — The  neighborhood  in  which  the  Gregorys  Hve  is  not  particularly  de- 
sirable, but  they  are  within  walking  distance  of Park.     They  live  on  the  top 

floor  of  a  large  old  tenement  house.  The  stairs  of  white  stone  look  as  though  they 
had  never  seen  water,  and  the  house  is  very  unprepossessing  in  every  way.  They 
have  a  flat  of  four  rooms,  two  of  which  are  very  small,  and  bath.  The  house  has 
steam  heat,  but  was  very  cold  the  day  agent  was  there,  and  the  people  Uving 
several  floors  below  spoke  as  though  the  house  was  always  hard  to  heat.  The 
Gregorys'  flat  was  clean,  but  not  very  orderly.  The  floors  are  painted  and  with- 
out rugs,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  furniture  or  decorations  of  any  kind.  Just 
one  room  is  used  for  sleeping,  and  this  has  two  beds  which  have  good  mattresses 
and  were  clean.    The  family  take  their  meals  in  the  small  kitchen. 

Finances. — Mr.  Gregory  earns  between  $30  and  $35  a  week.  He  haS  saved 
about  $300  since  coming  to  America,  and  they  have  money  in  Russia.  They  be- 
lieve in  depriving  themselves  of  all  that  they  can  in  order  to  get  a  good  education, 
and  Mr.  Gregory  wants  his  daughter  to  go  to  college.  He  said  with  pride  that 
his  wife  has  even  offered  to  get  work  if  necessary.  He  is  beginning  to  set  aside 
some  money  for  the  child  whom  they  hope  to  take  for  adoption.  They  are  evi- 
dently able  to  live  very  carefully  and  Mrs.  Gregory  is  probably  a  good  manager. 

Social  Connections. — ^The  Gregorys  are  Protestants,  and  attend  a  nearby 
church.  Their  school  is  also  within  a  few  blocks  of  the  house.  They  are  looking 
forward  to  living  in  a  better  neighborhood,  where  they  will  meet  nicer  people, 
and  said  that  possibly  they  would  move  next  summer  if  they  took  a  child.  Mrs. 
Gregory  has  made  friends  with  two  Russian  families  in  the  house,  but  she  says 
she  does  not  hear  very  good  Enghsh  spoken  by  her  associates. 

Child  Desired. — The  Gregorys  want  to  take  a  Uttle  boy  between  the  ages  of 
two  and  five  years  for  adoption.  They  would  not  be  particular  about  heredity, 
if  the  child  is  bright  and  attractive.  The  type  of  child  does  not  make  much 
difference  to  them.  They  have  always  been  disappointed  because  they  have  not 
had  a  son  to  bear  their  name,  and  feel  that  they  do  not  want  to  wait  longer  before 
taking  one,  as  they  would  rather  have  the  two  children  grow  up  together. 

References. — Mrs.  Menchen, Street,  N.  Y.  C.     Mrs.  Menchen  lives  on 

the  second  floor  in  the  house  with  the  Gregorys.    She  is  a  large,  ordinary  looking 

[471 


Russian,  and  has  two  bright,  attractive  children.  Her  apartment  is  furnished 
very  comfortably  and  was  clean.  She  has  Uved  in  the  house  with  Mrs.  Gregory 
for  five  years  and  has  seen  a  great  deal  of  the  family  and  she  was  very  enthusiastic 
in  reconmiending  them.  She  spoke  of  their  being  educated,  intelUgent  people, 
and  she  says  it  is  a  very  happy  family  group.  There  is  never  any  quarreling  and 
the  Gregorys  are  quiet,  pleasant  people.  Mrs.  Gregory  makes  an  inteUigent 
mother  and  Marie  is  well  brought  up  and  bright.  She  feels  sure  Mr.  Gregory  is 
temperate.  They  are  evidently  people  whom  Mrs.  Menchen  looks  up  to  and 
admires. 

Mrs.  Frankel, Avenue,  N.  Y.  C.     Mrs.  Frankel  is  also  making  application 

for  a  baby  for  adoption.     Mrs.  Frankel  is  a  rather  bright  Russian  woman  of  the 

Jewish  type,  with  dark  hair  and  eyes.    They  have  just  recently  moved  to 

Avenue,  and  previous  to  this  Uved  in  the  house  with  the  Gregorys  and  knew  them 
very  well  for  four  or  five  years.  She  spoke  of  them  very  much  as  Mrs.  Menchen 
had  done,  and  thinks  there  is  no  question  about  the  Gregorys  giving  the  child  a 
good  home.  Mrs.  Gregory  is  very  anxious  to  have  the  baby.  She  has  made  a 
most  careful  mother  and  they  are  people  who  are  well  respected  by  every  one. 

Mrs.  Heinsohn, Street,  N.  Y.  C.     Mrs.  Heinsohn  is  a  dressmaker  and 

was  not  at  home,  but  agent  talked  with  her  married  sister  who  has  an  apartment 
in  the  same  house.  She  says  that  she  has  known  Mrs.  Gregory  for  nearly  five 
years  but  does  not  know  her  as  well  as  Mrs.  Heinsohn  does.  They  met  her 
through  Mrs.  Menchen.  Mrs.  Heinsohn's  sister  has  never  been  in  the  Gregorys' 
home,  but  has  seen  a  good  deal  of  Mrs.  Gregory  when  calUng  upon  Mrs.  Menchen. 
She  has  been  very  favorably  impressed  with  her  and  knows  that  her  sister  thinks 
highly  of  the  family.  She  could  not  tell  agent  where  her  sister  is  employed  as  she 
has  just  recently  got  work. 

Additional  Reference. — Mrs.  Beckman, Avenue,  N.  Y.  C.  Mrs.  Beck- 
man  lives  within  a  block  of Road,  near Street,  in  a  fairly  good  neighbor- 
hood. Her  apartment  is  well  furnished  for  a  house  of  this  kind  and  is  clean. 
Mrs.  Beckman  is  a  nice-looking  woman,  a  Uttle  Jewish  in  appearance.  Her  hus- 
band met  Mr.  Gregory  at  night  school,  where  he  is  also  taking  courses,  and  he 
supports  his  family  in  the  same  way  by  working  in  different  laundries.  Mrs. 
Beckman  seems  to  be  a  thrifty  woman,  and  she  talks  quite  intelligently.  She 
has  only  one  child.  She  says  that  she  and  her  husband  have  known  the  Gregorys 
very  well  for  five  years;  that  they  have  often  spent  evenings  together  at  one  of 
their  houses,  and  that  they  are  very  nice  people.  She  thinks  it  would  be  an  ex- 
cellent home  for  a  child,  as  she  knows  Mrs.  Gregory  has  been  a  good  mother  and  is 
anxious  to  have  the  baby.  She  spoke  of  them  as  though  there  could  be  no  ques- 
tion about  the  home,  and  answered  all  agent's  questions  satisfactorily.  She  is 
sure  Mr.  Gregory  does  not  drink,  and  that  their  home  life  is  congenial  and  she 
considers  them  inteUigent  people  who  would  be  perfectly  reUable. 

Agent's  Opinion. — ^Agent  feels  that  we  would  be  safe  in  placing  a  child  with  the 
Gregorys  and  would  suggest  giving  them  an  attractive  foreign  child  or  a  child  of 
foreign  parentage.  It  is  a  most  interesting  family,  and  agent  feels  that  they  will 
some  day  be  in  better  circumstances.  The  house  in  which  they  Uve  is  a  decided 
drawback,  and  the  heating  arrangements  seem  unsatisfactory,  so  for  this  reason 
it  might  be  better  to  postpone  placing  a  child  with  them  until  the  severe  weather 
is  over.    They  are  people  who  seem  very  superior  to  their  surroundings. 

[481 


The  agency  placed  in  this  home  an  attractive  boy  of  three  and  a  half,  undoubt- 
edly of  foreign  parentage  from  his  appearance,  who  had  been  deserted.  The 
placement  has  worked  out  very  satisfactorily  for  both  foster  parents  and  child. 

Perhaps  the  first  point  which  would  occur  to  one  on  reading  this  in- 
vestigation is  the  difference  between  the  standards  of  this  family  in 
moral  and  intellectual  matters  and  the  very  simple,  not  to  say  meager, 
way  in  which  they  have  chosen  to  live.  An  investigator  might  easily 
have  been  so  dissatisfied  with  their  limited  sleeping  quarters,  their 
scanty  furniture,  and  the  poor  neighborhood  in  which  they  lived,  that 
she  would  not  have  felt  the  matter  worth  investigating.  But  in  this 
instance  the  agent  was  impressed  by  the  personality  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gregory  and  felt  convinced  that  they  were  sufficiently  substantial  to 
insure  an  adequate  home  to  any  child  that  might  be  placed  with  them. 
Further  investigation  fully  confirmed  this  impression.  The  necessary 
facts  regarding  the  finances,  history,  and  circumstances  of  the  family 
are  all  adequately  presented,  but  the  quality  which  makes  this  a  good 
investigation  is  the  agent's  perception  of  the  essential  traits  of  char- 
acter of  this  family;  the  ambition  and  energy  which  make  the  man 
study  engineering  at  night  after  a  hard  day  in  a  laundry,  the  woman's 
poise  and  motherliness,  and  their  maintenance  of  high  standards  of 
thinking  and  working  in  the  midst  of  poverty  and  unfamiliar  and  often 
difficult  conditions  of  life. 

Three  of  the  four  references  interviewed  had  known  the  family  in- 
timately for  four  or  five  years,  all  belonged  to  approximately  the  same 
social  level,  although  it  is  worth  noting  that  all  look  up  somewhat  to 
the  Gregorys,  and  all  seem  rehable  people.  Mrs.  Frankel  was  known 
to  the  Association  through  her  own  application,  which  was  later  ap- 
proved, and  her  opinion  was  especially  interesting  for  that  reason. 

Two  Disapproved  Homes. — The  following  investigation,  at  a  first 
reading,  describes  a  plain  but  possibly  satisfactory  home.  A  more 
careful  examination  of  the  report,  however,  shows  it  to  be  decidedly 
inadequate.  Subsequent  experience  proved  that  the  investigation  had 
failed  to  penetrate  far  enough  to  get  at  the  real  situation.  After  the 
child  was  placed  there,  it  developed  that  the  woman  had  so  high  a 
4  [49] 


temper  that  she  was  at  times  cruel  to  the  child.  The  neighbors  con- 
sidered her  abusive  and  quarrelsome.  She  was  essentially  coarse,  had 
been  very  cruel  to  two  children  of  relatives  whom  she  had  cared  for, 
and  quarreled  with  her  husband.  The  child  had  finally  to  be  removed. 
The  investigation  is  copied  verbatim,  except  for  the  names  and 
addresses.    The  written  references  were  entirely  satisfactory. 

Application  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Peters. 

Family. — Mr.  Peters  is  an  American,  thirty-nine  years  old.  He  is  a  little 
below  the  average  height,  and  is  rather  slender  and  dark.  He  seems  to  be  a 
fairly  sensible  and  intelhgent  person,  but  is  not  well  educated.  He  went  to 
grammar  school,  but  never  attended  high  school.  He  seems  to  be  quite  an  in- 
dustrious man,  and  is  evidently  thrifty  and  temperate.  He  told  the  agent  he  had 
been  wanting  to  take  a  child  for  some  time,  but  had  been  hoping  that  he  could  find 
one  whose  history  he  would  know.  He  has  decided  that  he  is  willing  to  take  a 
foundhng  if  he  can  get  an  attractive  one.    He  is  evidently  in  good  health. 

Mrs.  Peters  is  also  thirty-nine,  an  American.  She  is  stout  and  rather  motherly 
looking.  She  is  not  at  all  well  educated,  but  seems  quite  intelligent  and  sensible. 
She  has  good  ideas  about  child  training.  They  are  plain  people,  of  the  rather 
ordinary  village  type.  They  belong  to  the  Methodist  Church  and  are  quite  re- 
ligious. They  would  expect  a  child  to  attend  Sunday  school  regularly,  and  would 
send  one  through  high  school. 

They  have  never  had  any  children  of  their  own.  At  one  time  they  took  two 
of  Mr.  Peters'  sister's  children.  Her  husband  was  alcohoHc,  and  she  left  him  and 
finally  obtained  a  divorce ;  recently  she  married  again  and  then  took  the  children 
back  without  a  word  of  thanks  to  the  Peters,  who  had  kept  them  for  five  or  six 
years  and  had  grown  very  much  attached  to  them.  They  are  very  lonely  since 
the  children  left,  and  for  this  reason  are  doubly  stnxious  to  obtain  a  child. 

History. — Mrs.  Peters'  father  died  when  she  was  a  baby,  and  since  her  mother 
was  unable  to  care  for  her  she  was  adopted  by  a  family  friend.  She  has  always 
gone  by  the  name  of  Jones,  which  was  the  name  of  her  foster  parents.  They  had 
no  other  children.  When  she  was  six  years  old  her  foster  mother  died  and  her 
father  boarded  her  for  a  few  years.    When  she  was  eleven  she  kept  house  for  her 

father  and  continued  this  until  she  was  twenty-three.    She  lived  in ,  N.  Y., 

before  she  was  married.  She  recently  found  her  own  mother  living  near  there. 
She  is  a  respectable  woman.  Mrs.  Peters  has  helped  her  and  done  what  she  could 
for  her,  but  she  does  not  feel  that  she  could  take  her  into  her  own  home.  She 
says  that  she  always  felt  that  the  Joneses  were  her  own  parents.    She  did  not 

give  the  agent  the  name  of  her  own  mother.     Mr.  Peters  has  lived  in all  his 

life.  He  went  to  public  school  and  afterward  worked  at  various  kinds  of  employ- 
ment. They  were  married  sixteen  years  ago  in .  Agent  noticed  their  mar- 
riage certificate  in  a  broad  gold  frame  hanging  on  the  parlor  wall.    After  their 

marriage  they  lived  in one  year,  but  afterward  went  to  a  number  of  different 

places  in  succession  where  they  worked  in  hotels  in  the  laundry  business.    At 

,  Pa.,  they  were  at  the Hotel,  and  afterward  lived  at  a  great  many 

places  in  New  Hampshire,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey.    They  have  lived  in 

now  about  seven  years.     Mrs.  Peters'  foster  father  is  living  with  the  family.     He 

[501 


is  quite  an  old,  feeble  man.  She  said  that  he  was  not  able  to  do  very  much,  but 
liked  to  do  odd  jobs  around  the  house  and  work  in  the  garden. 

Home. — The  town  is  a  very  ordinary  village  of  possibly  2000  inhabitants. 
In  the  summer  there  are  a  good  many  boarders.  The  house  is  in  a  good  neigh- 
borhood in  the  central  part  of  the  town,  two  blocks  from  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  very  near  the  public  school.  They  have  a  frame  cottage  of  six  rooms,  which 
was  exquisitely  neat  and  clean  and  furnished  in  very  plain  country  style,  and  por- 
traits, gorgeously  framed,  on  the  walls;  carpets  on  the  floors,  and  very  shiny, 
varnished  furniture.  The  place  was  in  very  spick  and  span  condition  throughout. 
The  house  had  been  freshly  painted,  and  the  yard  and  garden  were  well  kept 
and  the  house  inside  was  perfectly  clean. 

Finances. — Mr.  Peters  earns  an  average  of  $18.00  a  week  the  year  round.  In 
the  summer  he  works  in  the  laundry  and  earns  a  good  deal  more  than  this,  but 
in  the  winter  he  earns  less,  as  the  laundry  work  is  very  light,  and  he  clerks  in  a 
store  in  town.  They  own  their  home  here.  Mrs,  Peters  has  a  paid-up  life  in- 
surance policy.     Mr.  Peters  is  insured  and  he  belongs  to Lodge,  with  which 

he  has  life  insurance.  The  house  and  furniture  are  also  insured.  The  people  are 
evidently  very  thrifty  and  industrious. 

Child  Desired. — They  want  a  girl  twenty  months  to  two  years  old.  They 
are  willing  to  take  a  foundling,  but  would  rather  know  the  parents  of  the  child. 
Agent  thinks  a  rather  ordinary  child  would  fit  into  this  family  very  well,  but  she 
would  not  be  likely  to  get  many  advantages. 

References. — Mrs.  North, ,  N.  Y.     Not  at  home. 

Mrs.  Frank  Boyd, ,  N.  Y.    As  Mrs.  Boyd  was  not  at  home,  agent  asked 

her  mother  if  she  knew  Mrs.  Peters  and  she  said  she  only  knew  her  slightly,  but 
she  thought  she  was  a  good  friend  of  her  daughter's.  As  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters 
were  rather  anxious  not  to  have  every  one  in  town  know  where  they  obtained  the 
child,  agent  did  not  explain  the  matter  any  further. 

Mrs.  Albert  Harvey, ,  N.  Y.     Mrs.  Harvey  is  a  neighbor  of  Mrs.  Peters. 

She  seemed  to  be  quite  an  intelligent  woman.  She  has  a  number  of  children  of 
her  own,  and  she  said  she  could  think  of  no  one  better  than  Mrs.  Peters  to  take 
care  of  a  child.  The  children  always  liked  to  visit  Mrs.  Peters  and  she  was 
very  nice  to  them.  Mrs.  Harvey  has  known  them  for  about  three  years.  They 
are  steady,  thrifty  people  and  seem  to  know  how  to  care  for  children  and  to  be 
willing  to  do  everything  they  can  for  them.  Mrs.  Harvey  seems  quite  enthusi- 
astic about  the  family.  She  understood  that  they  did  not  wish  the  matter 
generally  known,  and  she  agrees  with  them  that  this  is  best. 

Independent  Reference. — Mr.  Waring, ,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Waring,  the  Metho- 
dist minister,  has  known  the  family  two  years,  which  is  the  time  he  has  lived  in 
town.  He  says  they  are  very  devout,  religious  people  and  good  church  members. 
They  are  steady,  industrious,  frugal,  and  very  sensible  people,  who  would  do  what 
they  could  for  a  child.  He  said  it  would  be  a  plain  home,  but  he  considered  it  a 
good  one,  although  he  did  not  think  an  unusually  brilliant  child  should  be  placed 
with  them. 

Agent's  Opinion. — Agent  thinks  that  this  home  will  probably  prove  a  satis- 
factory place  for  a  rather  ordinary  child. 

This  report  seems  to  show,  on  the  surface,  a  safe  plain  home  of  the 

lower  middle  class  type.   There  is  nothing  in  the  written  statements  or 

[51] 


the  verbal  reports  of  the  references  to  indicate  anything  out  of  the 
way.  The  minister  did  say  that  he  did  not  consider  it  a  home  for  an 
unusually  promising  child,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  he  thought  it  a 
good  plain  home.  We  seem  to  have  a  picture  of  one  of  those  simple 
homes  of  a  familiar  type,  in  which  hundreds  of  adopted  children  are 
growing  up  happily  and  prosperously.  It  is  probably  just  here  that 
the  danger  Hes;  in  accepting  the  superficial  instead  of  getting  down 
further  into  the  facts  to  see  what  underlies  the  promising  surface.  A 
home  like  so  many  other  homes  which  have  proved  satisfactory  is 
likely  to  be  passed  by  the  agent  with  less  consideration  than  a  home 
exhibiting  unusual  characteristics.  There  was  apparently  nothing  out 
of  the  way  in  this  home;  everything  about  it  seemed  satisfactory  in 
its  limited  way,  and  the  agent  "took  a  chance"  on  its  being  all  right 
because  it  looked  all  right,  and  was  so  like  dozens  of  other  simple 
homes  which  she  had  investigated  which  were  all  right. 

But  when  one  looks  more  closely  at  this  report  one  finds  below  the 
surface  a  void  where  there  should  be  facts.  Probably  the  most  obvious 
lack  in  this  report  is  that  of  adequate  information  from  references.  In 
the  first  place,  two  of  the  original  references  were  not  seen.  Because  of 
the  agent's  wish  to  respect  the  family's  desire  for  privacy,  only  one 
independent  reference  was  seen.  It  is  well  to  remember  in  this  con- 
nection that  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  choose  between  respecting 
this  desire  and  securing  adequate  information.  In  such  a  case  as  this, 
where  the  family  planned  to  take  a  child  openly  and  were  apparently 
in  good  standing  and  on  good  terms  with  their  neighbors,  there  seems 
no  valid  reason  why  independent  references  should  not  be  seen.  An 
agent  should  feel  herself  justified  in  using  any  legitimate  channels  of 
information.  The  situation  is  different  when  a  child  has  already  been 
placed,  and  most  of  the  neighbors  think  it  the  family's  own  child. 

There  is  no  characterization  whatever  of  the  references  themselves. 
It  will  be  noted  that  the  first  reference  seen  could  give  no  information 
whatever,  and  that  the  second  spoke  in  the  most  general  terms,  which 
might  apply  to  a  hundred  homes.  The  clergyman,  who  had  known 
the  family  only  two  years,  was  hardly  qualified  to  act  as  a  reference. 
Although  the  investigator  does  not  mention  it,  he  was,  moreover,  very 

[52  1 


old  and  somewhat  childish,  and  not  a  competent  judge.  Therefore, 
when  one  comes  to  sum  up  the  opinion  of  the  neighbors  as  to  the  home, 
one  finds  that  it  amounts  to  very  nearly  nothing.  Certainly  there  is 
nothing  to  distinguish  this  family  from  scores  of  others.  Yet  it  must 
be  axiomatic  that  no  two  families  are  alike,  as  no  two  individuals  are 
alike. 

One  obvious  clue  which  was  overlooked  was  that  of  the  two  children 
for  whom  the  Peters  had  previously  cared.  Here  was  the  best  possible 
tip  on  the  kind  of  care  that  these  foster  parents  would  give.  They  had 
already  tried  the  experiment  of  taking  children  into  their  home — how 
had  it  worked  out?  Not  a  suggestion  is  given  us,  except  that  "chil- 
dren always  liked  to  visit  Mrs.  Peters  and  that  she  was  very  nice  to 
them,"  and  that  "they  seem  to  be  willing  to  do  everything  they  can 
for  them." 

Another  defect  which  becomes  clear  upon  examination  is  that  we 
know  next  to  nothing  about  the  background  and  personaUty  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peters.  Mr.  Peters  is  described — the  essential  characteris- 
tics of  him — ^in  two  sentences.  "He  seems  to  be  a  fairly  sensible  and 
intelhgent  person.  ...  He  seems  to  be  quite  an  industrious  man 
and  is  evidently  thrifty  and  temperate."  Mrs.  Peters  is  described 
thus;  " She  seems  quite  intelligent  and  sensible.  She  has  good  ideas 
about  child  training."  Mr.  Peters'  background  is  no  more  detailed. 
"He  lived  in all  his  life.  He  went  to  public  school  and  after- 
ward worked  at  different  kinds  of  employment."  Mrs.  Peters'  family, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  discussed  in  some  detail.  But  as  her  circum- 
stances were  unusual  and  open  to  some  question,  the  whole  matter 
should  have  been  minutely  investigated.  Nothing  emerges  from  the 
agent's  report  to  guide  us  to  the  effect  of  this  irregular  Ufe  on  Mrs. 
Peters.  It  needs  no  pointing  out  that  we  have  here  wholly  inadequate 
information  about  the  crux  of  the  whole  matter:  what  kind  of  people 
are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters?  What  kind  of  impression  are  they  going  to 
make  on  the  plastic  nature  of  a  child?  What  kind  of  childhood  have 
they  themselves  had?  How  do  they  get  on  together?  Why  have  they 
no  children  of  their  own?  Which  of  them  rules  the  roost?  Are  they 
even  tempered  or  touchy?   Is  Mrs.  Peters  a  stable  woman?    Will  they 

[53  1 


be  friendly  toward  the  Association?  Why  tias  Mr.  Peters  "worked  at 
different  kinds  of  employment  *'?  What  were  they?  Why  did  he  leave 
them?  What  kind  of  disciplinarian  will  Mrs.  Peters  be?  What  are 
their  standards  and  ideals,  their  views  on  neighborhood  activities,  on 
current  events?  What  kind  of  friends  will  they  be  able  to  make  for 
their  child?  These  are  only  a  few  of  the  questions  for  which  we  have 
no  answer.  Had  they  been  answered  the  home  would  certainly  not 
have  been  used,  as  it  was,  with  disastrous  results. 

Second  Disapproved  Home. — The  investigation  which  follows  is  an 
interesting  example  of  a  home  which  could  only  be  disapproved,  so 
obvious  are  its  drawbacks,  but  which  from  the  written  references,  sent 
by  people  whose  names  were  given  by  the  applicants,  would  seem  a 
satisfactory  home.  The  only  real  objection  to  it  mentioned  in  the 
written  references  are  ;the  facts  that  Mrs.  Walker  is  in  poor  health, 
and  that  the  couple  are  perhaps  too  old  to  take  a  child.  It  should  be 
explained  that  it  is  the  custom  of  this  agency  to  send  out  blanks  to  the 
references  as  soon  as  the  formal  appUcation  is  received  and  before  the 
investigation  is  made. 

The  references  are  as  follows : 

1.  Is  Dr.  Walker  of  temperate  habits? Extremely  temperate. 

2.  Is  he  kind  and  just? As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ob- 

serve he  is. 

3.  Is  Mrs.  Walker  a  good  sensible  woman? ....  She  surely  is. 

4.  Is  the  moral  standard  of  the  family  high? ....  Yes. 

5.  Is  the  family  in  good  health? Mrs.  Walker  is  not  real  strong, 

but  able  to  do  a  great  deal  at 
the  same  time. 

6.  What  is  their  financial  condition? He  is  a  dentist  and  apparently 

doing  well. 

7.  Have  they  a  comfortable  home? Yes. 

8.  Would  you  consider  it  a  desirable  home  for  a 

child? I  think  it  would  be.    There  is 

only  one  son  (grown)  who  is 
home,  and  he  is  unusually  an- 
xious to  help  in  this  way. 

9.  What  church  do  they  attend? Methodist. 

10.  How  long  have  you  known  the  family? About  fifteen  years. 

11.  Are  you  related  to  them  by  marriage  or  other- 

wise?   No. 

12.  Please  state  any  further  particulars  regarding  their  character  and  standing. 
Mrs.  Walker  is  a  very  earnest  church  worker.    They  are  one  of  the  fine  fami- 

[54] 


lies  of  the  community,  and  I  think  no  mistake  will  be  made  if  you  do  your  best    / 
by  them. 

The  second  reference  wrote: 

1.  Yes. 

2.  No  answer. 

3.  Yes.    Unusually  fine  woman. 
4}  Yes. 

5.  Average  good  health. 

6.  Reasonably  prosperous. 

7.  Yes. 

8.  Yes. 

9.  Father,  Congregational.     Mother,  Methodist. 

10.  Fifteen  to  twenty  years. 

11.  None. 

12.  They  have  raised  two  children  and  they  are  fine,  Christian  young  people  of 
the  highest  standing.  We  consider  them  a  better  recommendation  for  this 
home  than  anything  we  could  say. 

The  third  reference,  who  was  a  former  Commissioner  of  Charities, 
wrote: 

1.  Yes. 

2.  Yes. 

3.  Yes. 

4.  As  far  as  I  know  very  good. 

5.  Mrs.  Walker  has  not  the  best  of  health,  but  nothing  to  interfere  with  a  chUd. 

6.  He  is  a  dentist,  and  I  would  say  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

7.  Yes.  '         , 

8.  Yes,  unless  the  parents  were  a  trifle  old.    They  have  one  daughter  married 
and  one  son  grown  up. 

9.  Methodist. 

10.  I  am  not  well  acquainted  with  them. 

11.  No. 

12.  They  attend  the  same  church  that  I  attend,  and  are  considered  very  nice 
people.  The  daughter,  who  is  married,  married  a  man  from  one  of  our  best 
families,  and  the  son  is  manager  of  a  store  here  and  a  very  nice  young  man. 

Following  is  the  agent's  report. 

Family. — Agent  saw  Mrs.  Walker  at  her  husband's  office  downtown,  where 
she  works  as  office  assistant.  She  is  an  American,  Protestant,  fifty-two  years  old, 
small  and  rather  frail  in  appearance.  She  has  white  hair  and  dark  eyes.  Her  char- 
acter, from  all  reports,  is  excellent,  but  temperamentally  she  is  somewhat  erratic. 
She  is  a  great  church  worker,  and  lately,  when  some  sort  of  a  campaign  was  held 

in ,  she  seemed  to  think  it  was  up  to  her  to  conduct  the  whole  thing.     She 

did  not  take  her  responsibilities  well.  She  did  some  things  twice  and  left  others 
quite  as  important  undone.    Her  manner  was  very  nervous  and  hesitating.    She 

[55] 


seemed  very  indefinite  about  facts.  She  is  gentle  and  mild  and  without  force. 
She  is  apparently  dominated  by  her  husband,  who  evidently  forces  her  to  work  in 
his  office.  Agent  feels  quite  certain  that  she  is  afraid  of  him.  She  is  at  the  office 
all  day  and  intends  to  keep  on  with  her  work  if  she  takes  a  child.  She  does  her 
own  housework,  with  the  assistance  of  a  son  who  is  at  home.  She  is  fond  of  reading 
and  music.  She  said  that  she  leads  a  quiet  life,  but  it  is  pleasant.  Agent  asked 
her  about  her  health,  and  she  said  that  she  is  well.  Agent  felt,  however,  that  she 
is  not  at  all  strong,  and  that  she  seemed  very  nervous,  as  if  she  were  continually 
under  a  strain.  Her  attitude  toward  taking  a  child  is  peculiar.  She  has  two 
grown  children,  and  the  thought  of  taking  another  child  did  not  occur  to  her  until 
the  son  mentioned  it  to  her.     It  is  for  his  sake  that  she  is  taking  this  child. 

Dr.  Walker  Ls  an  American,  Protestant,  fifty-five  years  old.  He  is  tall  and 
thin  and  only  slightly  gray.  He  is  rather  cross  looking,  and  has  the  reputation 
of  being  hard  to  get  on  with.  Agent  should  imagine  him  to  be  without  much 
feeling.  He  is  evidently  a  "driver."  His  manner  is  very  abrupt  and  not  too 
gracious.  He  seemed  to  be  intelligent  enough,  and  has  had  some  education. 
He  thinks  the  whole  business  of  taking  another  child  into  his  home  nothing  but 
nonsense,  and  frankly  admits  that  he  is  not  the  least  bit  interested. 

Their  son  Robert,  who  is  twenty-five  years  old,  has  always  had  poor  health. 

He  sent  to Academy  for  a  year  and  wanted  to  go  to  college,  but  could  not 

stand  this  physically.  He  volunteered  for  service  when  war  was  declared,  but 
was  discharged  from  the  navy  because  of  physical  incapacity.  Since  then  he 
has  been  at  home.  He  is  employed  irregularly  by  his  uncle,  and  earns  ten  dollars 
a  week.  He  left  the  navy  in  bad  condition,  and  when  he  was  sick  at  home  he 
told  his  mother  he  wished  they  had  a  little  girl  there,  because  things  would  seem 
so  much  brighter.  He  realizes  that  he  cannot  marry  for  some  years,  and  is  fond  of 
children.  He  said  he  would  assist  his  mother  with  the  care  of  the  child  or  take  all 
the  care  of  it  if  necessary.  He  has  been  reading  with  Mrs.  Walker  such  books  as 
"Motherhood,"  "The  Care  of  Children,"  etc.,  to  prepare  for  this.  His  attitude 
seems  hardly  normal.  Agent  did  not  see  him,  as  he  was  out,  but  he  is  said  to  be 
peculiar  and  very  effeminate.  He  does  not  go  out  with  young  people  at  all,  but 
is  always  with  his  mother  in  the  evenings. 

History. — Mrs.  Walker,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mabel  Parks,  was  born  in 

,  Connecticut,  in  December,  1868.     Her  father  died  several  years  ago  of 

pneumonia.     He  was  a  farmer.     Mrs.  Walker  attended  the  Seminary. 

She  taught  music  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  fond  of  it.  She  said  she  hated 
to  give  it  up. 

Dr.  Walker  was  born  in ,  N.  Y.,  in  1861.     His  mother  died  of  typhoid 

some  years  ago.    His  father  is  dead.     Dr.  Walker  went  to  school  in ,  N.  Y., 

and  attended  the Normal. 

The  Walkers  were  married  January  2,  1889,  in ,  N.  Y.,  by  Rev. . 

Home. — Agent  went  up  to  the  house  to  see  Mrs.  Walker,  but  as  she  did  not 
find  her  there,  did  not  go  in.  The  house  is  on  a  quiet  street,  and  is  set  in  a  plea- 
sant yard.  There  are  a  great  many  flowers  and  bushes.  The  house  is  rather 
large,  and  is  a  yellow  frame  building.  There  is  a  porch  at  the  front.  The  out- 
ward appearance  of  things  was  comfortable  and  tasteful. 

Occupation  and  Finances. — Dr.  Walker  is  a  dentist.  Their  present  income 
is  about  $40  a  week.  They  own  their  home.  Dr.  Walker  is  insured  with  the 
for  $2000.     Mrs.  Walker  is  insured  in  the for  $2000.     Mrs.  Walker 

[56  1 


says  that  she  really  makes  a  salary,  but  never  takes  it  out — ^it  goes  in  with  the 
family  income. 

References. — Mrs.  Gray  has  known  Mrs.  Walker  for  some  years,  and  she 
could  say  only  the  highest  things  of  her  character  and  respectability.  She  said 
she  understood  that  Mrs.  Walker  would  give  up  her  work  at  the  office  if  she  took 
a  little  girl;  in  fact,  she  said  she  did  not  see  how  she  could  manage  otherwise 
with  the  care  of  her  home.  Mrs.  Gray  said  that  the  fact  that  the  children  had 
been  so  well  brought  up  spoke  in  itself  for  the  Walkers.  Their  home  life  is  very 
pleasant,  as  far  as  Mrs.  Gray  knows,  but  she  said  Dr.  Walker  had  the  reputation 
of  being  a  man  who  is  very  difficult  to  get  along  with.  The  girl  who  worked  for 
him  has  been  known  to  complain  and  to  say  that  he  is  somewhat  a  driver.  Mrs. 
Gray  feels  that  this  home  would  do  if  Mrs.  Walker  could  give  her  time  to  the  care 
of  a  child. 

Mrs.  McCall  recommends  this  home  with  certain  quaUfications.  She  says 
that  Mrs.  Walker  is  apparently  taking  the  child  for  her  son's  sake,  and  she  her- 
self thinks  that  this  is  a  very  queer  idea.  Robert  is  very  effeminate  and  imusual. 
She  thinks  it  ridiculous  that  he  would  even  think  of  taking  care  of  this  child. 
Mrs.  Walker's  health  is  not  any  too  robust,  and  Mrs.  McCall  does  not  think  she 
should  have  any  more  cares  and  responsibilities  than  she  has  now.  Mrs.  McCall 
feels  Dr.  Walker  is  not  interested  in  this  step,  and  that  he  would  have  very  Uttle 
sympathy  with  a  child.  Mrs.  McCall  could  not  say  anything  against  the  char- 
acter of  any  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Adkins,  Commissioner  of  Charities,  is  a  very  sensible  man,  who  knows 
most  of  the  people  in  the  community.  He  said  that  he  would  not  consider  this 
by  any  means  an  ideal  home  for  a  child;  if  another  place  could  be  found  for  the 
little  girl,  not  to  send  her  to  the  Walkers.  He  spoke  of  Mrs.  Walker's  erratic 
temperament,  and  told  how  she  loses  her  head  when  she  has  any  extra  responsi- 
biUties  or  care.  He  said  Mrs.  Walker  is  on  the  verge  of  a  nervous  breakdown, 
but  he  is  certain  Dr.  Walker  makes  her  work  in  the  office  to  avoid  paying  an 
assistant  a  regular  salary.  Dr.  Walker  is  rather  a  hard  man,  who  is  not  interested 
in  taking  a  child  into  the  home,  consequently  if  Mrs.  Walker's  health  should  give 
out  and  Robert  should  marry,  the  child  would  be  left  with  an  unsympathetic 
person.  Mr.  Adkins  thought  the  idea  of  Robert  taking  care  of  the  child  was 
ridiculous,  and  said  it  could  not  under  any  circumstances  be  practical.  He  is  a 
very  effeminate  young  man,  who  never  goes  out  at  all,  and  his  ideas  about  taking 
a  Uttle  girl  are  rather  curious.  Mr.  Adkins  does  not  feel  that  this  home  should  be 
used. 

Agent's  Opinion. — Agent  does  not  consider  this  an  available  home  on  the 
grounds  of  Mrs.  Walker's  health  and  the  fact  that  she  is  busy  at  the  office  all 
day.  Agent  also  thinks  it  would  be  most  unwise  to  place  a  child  there  for  the  sake 
of  the  fancy  of  a  young  man.  She  does  not  think,  furthermore,  that  a  child 
placed  there  would  get  the  slightest  sympathy  from  Dr.  Walker. 

This  home  should  so  clearly  be  disapproved  that  there  is  no  dis- 
cussion needed  as  to  that  aspect.  But  there  are  several  points  which 
are  worth  making. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  the  references  in  their  written  statements  gave 

[57] 


a  very  different  impression  from  that  of  their  verbal  interviews,  and 
this  is  particularly  marked  in  the  case  of  the  Commissioner  of  Char- 
ities, who  in  his  written  statement  said  that  he  would  consider  it  a 
good  home  except  for  the  age  of  the  applicants,  and  in  his  interview 
said  that  the  home  should  not  be  used.  Mrs.  McCall  was  also  much 
stronger  in  her  objections  in  talking  to  the  agent  than  she  was  in 
writing.  This  is  an  excellent  example  of  the  hesitation  which  refer- 
ences almost  uniformly  feel  about  putting  on  paper  their  real  criticism 
of  a  family,  even  though  they  may  be  willing  to  discuss  the  matter 
frankly  with  the  agent  who  calls  on  them.  It  furnishes  additional 
proof  of  what  is  fast  becoming  a  maxim  with  child^placing  agencies — 
always  interview  your  references  personally.  From  the  written  refer- 
ences in  this  case  not  a  suggestion  could  be  found  as  to  the  abnormal 
character  of  the  son,  nor  as  to  the  fact  of  Mrs.  Walker's  being  away  all 
day  at  the  office,  an  obvious  fact  which  one  might  expect  a  reference 
to  mention,  if  it  were  not  that  the  mention  of  it  would  naturally  raise 
an  objection  to  the  home.  One  reference,  it  is  true,  omitted  to  answer, 
certainly  intentionally,  the  question,  ''Is  Dr.  Walker  kind  and  just?" 
But  aside  from  that  and  the  allusion  to  their  age,  there  is  nothing  in 
these  written  references  to  prepare  one  for  the  really  startling  impos- 
sibihty  of  using  this  home.  The  moral  is  so  plain  as  to  need  no  point- 
ing out. 

The  agent  could,  no  doubt,  without  seeing  any  references  at  all,  have 
made  up  her  mind  that  the  home  was  not  a  suitable  one,  although  she 
would  naturally  wish  to  confirm  her  own  observation  by  hearing  their 
opinions.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  most  serious  objection  to 
this  home  was  based  not  on  questions  of  finance,  morals,  nor  standards 
of  Uving,  but  on  the  personaUty  of  the  various  members  of  the  family 
and  their  relation  to  one  another.  In  this  instance  the  objections  hap- 
pen to  be  obvious,  but  a  similar  situation,  though  a  less  extreme  one, 
might  easily  escape  an  inexperienced  or  unobservant  investigator.  The 
undoubtedly  abnormal  character  of  the  son,  the  bullying  character  of 
the  father,  the  weak  character  of  the  mother,  make  up  a  household 
situation  with  possibilities  of  unUmited  trouble.  But  these  char- 
acteristics might  exist  to  so  slight  a  degree  as  to  be  perceptible  only  to 

158  1 


the  trained  worker,  and  yet  be  strong  enough  to  make  a  failure  of  the 
placement.  Such  under-the-surface  traits  are  best  worth  the  attention 
of  the  investigator,  and  are  naturally  the  hardest  to  penetrate. 

The  attitude  of  the  various  members  of  the  family  toward  the  pro- 
ject is  also  worth  noting.  Here  again  the  facts  are  obvious;  such  ex- 
treme divergencies  of  view  as  are  represented  by  the  pecuUar  interest 
of  the  son,  the  hostility  of  the  father,  and  the  passivity  of  the  mother 
would  not  often  be  found.  But  to  a  less  degree  they  may  exist  in  many 
apparently  good  homes,  and  it  will  pay  the  agent  to  keep  a  sharp  eye 
out  for  them. 

Full  Investigations  of  Doubtful  Homes. — It  may  be  worth  noting 
that  the  visitor  in  this  instance  made  what  might  be  considered  an 
unnecessarily  thorough  examination  of  an  obviously  unsatisfactory 
home.  The  chief  reason  in  this  case  was  that  the  family  lived  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  New  York,  so  that  it  would  have  involved  ex- 
pense and  waste  of  time  to  get  further  facts  if  they  had  been  needed. 
This  is  a  poHcy  which  will  probably  be  found  economical.  Doubtful 
homes  within  easy  distance  of  the  office  can  be  investigated  and  dis- 
missed more  readily  than  those  at  a  distance,  which  should  be  investi- 
gated carefully  enough  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  whether  they  should 
be  disapproved  or  given  a  trial.  It  is  an  expensive  matter  to  send  a 
visitor  a  hundred  miles  to  get  some  necessary  bit  of  additional  evi- 
dence. 

There  are  other  reasons  why  in  some  cases  one  needs  what  might 
seem  a  superfluous  amount  of  information  about  a  disapproved  appli- 
cation. An  association  such  as  the  State  Charities  Aid  Association, 
doing  various  kinds  of  work  throughout  the  state,  may  find  one  of  its 
other  departments  involved  in  a  local  quarrel  because  its  child-placing 
department  has  refused  the  application  of  a  leading  citizen  of  that 
commmiity.  A  broad  basis  of  facts  for  one's  action  is  essential  in  such 
a  tangle.  Moreover,  it  happens  occasionally  that  a  family  whose 
application  has  been  disapproved  refuse  to  accept  their  rejection,  and 
leave  no  stone  imturned  to  find  why  they  were  refused.  They  may 
send  in  delegations  of  references;  they  may  even  appeal  to  their  rep- 
resentative in  the  legislature.    In  general,  of  course,  this  does  not 

[69] 


happen,  but  with  certain  types  of  families  one  must  accumulate  what 
may  seem  unnecessary  evidence.  It  may  prove  an  economy  in  the 
long  run. 

Reasons  for  Disapproving  an  Application. — The  grounds  on  which 
homes  are  disapproved  are  various;  some  of  them  have  been  noted 
above.  It  is  nearly  impossible  to  make  set  rules  and  to  say  that  every 
home  which  has  a  certain  defect  must  be  rejected.  It  is,  however, 
possible  to  indicate  some  of  the  chief  reasons  for  disapproval.  A  bad 
reputation  on  the  part  of  any  one  in  the  family  or  friction  between 
members  of  the  household,  notably  between  the  husband  and  wife, 
should  usually  rule  out  the  home.  Bad  living  conditions,  crowded 
sleeping  quarters,  insanitary  conditions  or  an  inadequate  income  make 
the  home  undesirable.  It  has  been  the  custom  of  the  Association  in 
some  cases,  when  the  home  was  in  other  respects  satisfactory,  to 
withhold  judgment,  calUng  the  application  suspended  rather  than 
rejected,  and  telling  the  family  that  they  may  reapply  when  their 
living  conditions  have  improved. 

Such  factors  as  these  make  up  the  more  simple  and  obvious  reasons 
for  refusing  an  application.  Of  equal  significance  and  far  greater  com- 
plexity are  the  more  intangible  reasons,  such  as  temperamental  diffi- 
culties, a  generally  low  standard  of  hfe,  and  shiftlessness,  even  though 
it  may  not  be  extreme  enough  to  interfere  with  the  earning  of  an  ade- 
quate income  or  the  maintenance  of  a  decent  home.  It  is  undoubtedly 
true  that  among  its  applicants  for  children  every  agency  finds  a  fair 
number  of  subnormal  people.  These  famihes  may  live  in  a  fairly  com- 
fortable way  and  be  respectable  people,  and  yet  have  such  low  ideals 
and  such  inferior  intelhgence  that  no  child  could  be  safely  intrusted 
to  them.  It  is  usually  very  hard  to  put  your  finger  on  the  basic  defect 
of  such  a  family,  but  as  a  shrewd  and  homely  reference  may  remark, 
"They  haven't  got  horse  sense."  Nor  have  they  anything  in  the 
nature  of  an  ideal  of  decent  conduct  and  citizenship  to  give  the  child. 
In  brief,  there  is  nothing  that  they  have  to  offer  beyond  limited  mate- 
rial advantages,  and  for  most  children  something  better  than  this  is 
available.  Moreover,  such  a  family  is  usually  helpless  in  the  face  of 
any  crisis,  and  is  difficult  to  advise.    This  type  of  border-line  home  is 

[60  1 


very  common  and  forms  one  of  the  chief  problems  of  the  placing-out 
agent. 

The  home  which  is  described  as  follows  was  investigated  for  the 
purpose  of  deciding  whether  a  child  whom  the  family  had  cared  for  in 
board  should  be  left  there  for  adoption.  When  Mrs.  Gutmann  took 
her,  the  baby  was  in  a  critical  condition  and  the  institution  (not  the 
Association)  who  had  placed  the  child  there  said  that  Mrs.  Gutmann 
had  unquestionably  saved  the  child's  hfe  by  her  nursing.  The  agent 
making  the  investigation  had  therefore  to  weigh  against  the  defects 
of  the  family,  their  devotion  to  the  child,  who  was  still  there  with 
them,  and  their  genuine  suffering  if  the  child  were  to  be  removed.  In 
quoting  this  report,  for  greater  clearness,  only  facts  relating  to  the 
home  itself,  not  to  the  child,  were  cited. 


Home  Disapproved  after  Complete  Inyestigation. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gutmann 
live  in  a  small  village  and  have  an  apartment  of  four  rooms  on  the  second  floor  of  a 
cheaply  built  brown-stone  house,  the  lower  floor  of  which  is  occupied  by  a  shoe- 
maker's establishment.  The  rooms  are  well  lighted  and  ventilated.  The  walls 
are  kalsomined,  and  most  of  the  floors  covered  with  oilcloth.  They  have  very 
little  furniture,  but  what  they  have  is  of  a  substantial  kind.  There  are  practically 
no  ornaments.  There  is  no  bath-room  on  this  floor,  and  the  one  on  the  first  floor 
is  evidently  used  by  both  families  in  the  house.  The  kitchen  has  only  a  cold-water 
faucet  and  an  oil  stove.  The  family  have  not  lived  in  the  house  in  winter,  and  do 
not  know  just  how  they  will  heat  it,  but  they  have  a  coal  stove  for  the  dining-room 
and  an  oil  stove  for  the  front  room.  The  house  was  pretty  clean  and  orderly,  and 
the  beds  seemed  comfortable. 

Mr.  Gutmann  has  been  employed  for  the  last  month  by  the Company, 

loading  milk  on  wagons  through  the  night.  He  receives  $30  a  week  in  wages. 
In  addition  to  this  he  is  working  a  few  hours  each  day  for  an  ice  company  and  has 
been  averaging  $12  a  week  from  it.     He  has  not  held  any  position  for  more  than 

six  months,  according  to  his  statement.     He  is  insured  in  the Company  for 

$634,  and  Mrs.  Gutmann  is  insured  in  the  same  company  for  $760.  There  are 
no  savings  to  amount  to  anything.  They  are  paying  $15  a  month  rent.  They 
seem  somewhat  extravagant. 

Family. — Mrs.  Gutmann  is  twenty-two  years  of  age.  She  is  of  average  height 
and  build,  has  a  high  forehead,  and  rather  blonde  hair.  Her  front  teeth  are  filled 
with  gold.  She  has  a  fresh,  healthy  complexion,  is  Uvely  and  full  of  fun,  and  has 
a  rather  low  voice.  She  seems  to  be  fairly  intelligent,  and  has  evidently  been 
instructed  in  the  care  and  feeding  of  children.  She  is  quite  independent,  and 
seems  a  little  high  strung  and  possibly  a  little  quick  tempered.  She  is  wide 
awake  and  seems  naturally  very  fond  of  children,  but  is  not  a  particularly  good 
housekeeper.  She  is  not  very  neat  about  her  own  appearance,  but  keeps  herself 
fairly  clean.    Her  intentions  seem  good,  but  her  standards  not  particularly  high, 

[611 


and  she  does  not  seem  ambitious,  though,  of  course,  she  is  handicapped  by  a  small 
income. 

Mr,  Gutmann  is  also  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  is  quite  a  contrast  to  his 
wife.  He  is  heavily  built,  has  a  shock  of  dark-brown  hair,  large  rounded  features, 
and  rather  expressionless  brown  eyes.  He  is  a  little  foreign  looking,  and  is  of  the 
dull,  phlegmatic  type.  He  has  none  of  the  alertness  that  his  wife  has,  and  acts 
very  dull  and  stupid.  He  did  little  talking,  and  often  asked  his  wife  for  informa- 
tion which  he  would  be  much  more  likely  to  have  and  which  she  could  not  give. 
He  did  not  appear  mentally  deficient,  but  has  had  almost  no  education  or  training 
and  has  a  mental  laziness  which  keeps  him  from  getting  far.  He  seems  to  be 
pretty  good  natured. 

The  Gutmanns  have  never  had  any  children.  Mrs.  Gutmann  says  that  she 
has  had  some  internal  trouble  since  marriage. 

History. — Mrs.  Gutmann  left  school  in  the  middle  of  the  term,  when  she  was 
in  the  seventh  grade,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  without  the  consent  of  her  mother 

and  worked  first  as  a  bundle  girl  in  the Department  Store.     Later  she  worked 

in  the Waist  Co.,  where  she  was  a  machine  operator  for  seven  years,  earning 

$23  a  week.  Mr.  Gutmann's  father  was  a  conductor  and  starter.  Mr.  Gutmann 
says  he  can  never  remember  being  happy  at  home.  His  father  never  liked  him, 
and  he  was  jealous  of  his  only  sister,  whom  he  did  not  get  along  well  with.  His 
father,  according  to  Mrs.  Gutmann,  was  quite  intemperate.  Mr.  Gutmann  left 
school  at  11  without  completing  the  last  two  grades.  He  was  obliged  to  give  his 
father  all  of  his  earnings,  and  says  he  left  home  several  times.  He  never  sees  his 
father  or  sister  and  does  not  even  know  where  they  are.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gutmann 
had  been  acquainted  only  nine  months  when  they  were  married.  It  was  a  run- 
away marriage,  as  Mrs.  Gutmann's  parents  objected  because  she  was  young. 
Her  husband  was  nominally  Catholic,  but  does  not  attend  the  church  any  more. 

References. — It  was  difficult  for  the  Gutmanns  to  furnish  satisfactory  refer- 
ences. They  have  a  number  of  acquaintances,  but  very  few  friends.  Mrs.  Gut- 
mann seems  to  depend  almost  entirely  upon  her  family  for  outside  companion- 
ship, and  Mr.  Gutmann  is  not  at  all  sociable. 

Mrs.  Wagner  is  a  woman  about  thirty  years  of  age  and  is  a  wholesome,  do- 
mestic type.  She  seems  intelligent,  dresses  well,  and  made  a  better  impression 
upon  agent  than  Mrs.  Gutmann.  She  has  known  Mrs.  Gutmann  for  four  years 
and  seems  to  be  her  only  intimate  friend.  She  and  Mrs.  Gutmann  spend  a  good 
deal  of  time  together.  She  considers  Mrs.  Gutmann  a  capable,  practical  woman. 
She  has  only  known  Mr.  Gutmann  since  they  were  married.  In  answering  ques- 
tions she  said  that  he  worked  steadily  and  was  temperate,  he  was  kind  in  his  home, 
and  he  and  his  wife  got  along  well.  She  did  not  have  much  more  to  say  about 
him,  but  did  not  know  of  anything  detrimental. 

Miss  Breitman  is  evidently  a  bookkeeper  in  the  grocery  store  opp)osite  the 
Gutmanns'.  She  is  a  woman  about  thirty  years  old,  and  is  apparently  intelli- 
gent. She  could  not  give  a  great  deal  of  information.  She  has  known  Mrs. 
Gutmann  for  about  five  years,  but  Mr.  Gutmann  only  about  a  year.  She  is  not 
a  friend  of  theirs,  and  has  never  been  in  their  home,  but  they  trade  at  the  store 
and  always  pay  very  promptly.  She  could  not  answer  any  questions  about  Mr. 
Gutmann.  She  understands  that  he  works  regularly  and  has  never  heard  any- 
thing against  him.  She  says  that  undoubtedly  Mrs.  Gutmann  is  the  stronger 
influence  in  the  home.    She  is  much  more  alert  and  intelligent  than  her  husband. 

[  62  ] 


Independent  References. — Postmaster.  He  is  a  middle-aged  man,  rather 
keen  and  intelligent.  He  has  known  Mrs.  Gutmann  and  her  family  for  about 
four  years.  He  says  her  family  are  nice  people,  of  the  plain  middle  class.  He 
could  not  speak  particularly  well  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gutmann.  He  has  only  known 
Mr.  Gutmann  for  about  a  year,  and  says  he  is  not  a  very  intelUgent  man.  He  is 
not  physically  lazy,  but  is  mentally  so,  and  the  kind  of  man  who  will  always  be 
changing  his  job,  thinking  he  can  do  better  somewhere  else,  without  having  much 
foresight  in  the  matter.  He  has  not  any  of  the  snap  of  his  wife,  and  probably 
never  will  be  comfortably  off  financially  on  account  of  his  dull,  heavy  make-up. 
He  works  steadily  and  is  not  a  loafer  in  any  sense,  and  the  postmaster  never  knew 
of  his  being  intemperate.  He  thinks  Mr.  Gutmann  and  his  wife  quarrel  a  good 
deal,  but  no  more  than  people  of  their  class  usually  do.  He  would  hardly  con- 
sider it  a  desirable  adoption  home,  as  he  does  not  see  how  they  would  ever  be  in  a 
position  to  take  a  child  or  give  it  many  advantages. 

Mr.  Freund  has  the  apartment  below  the  Gutmanns'.  He  is  a  rather  old  man, 
rough  in  his  manner.  He  at  first  did  not  want  to  have  anything  to  say  and  does 
not  wish  to  be  quoted.  He  evidently  does  not  get  along  well  with  the  Gutmanns, 
and  does  not  like  them.  He  wishes  they  were  out  of  the  house.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gutmann  "curse."  He  has  heard  that  she  used  to  be  a  "high  flyer."  He 
certainly  would  not  want  to  recommend  the  home  for  a  child.  He  has  employed 
Mr.  Gutmann  to  deliver  the  ice  during  the  summer.  He  paid  him  $35  last  month. 
He  will  not  employ  him  in  the  winter,  and  what  he  earns  from  the  milk  business  is 
his  only  regular  income. 

Agent  telephoned  the  last  company  for  which  Mr.  Gutmann  worked.  The 
foreman  recalled  Mr.  Gutmann,  and  said  he  was  employed  there  for  three  or  four 
months  last  winter  as  a  laborer.  He  was  paid  about  $4  a  day.  He  said  that  right 
after  Mr.  Gutmann  left  he  collected  the  wages  for  a  man  who  he  claimed  had 
authorized  him  to  do  so.  This  man  made  complaint  to  the  company  afterward, 
saying  that  he  had  not  received  his  money  and  had  not  authorized  Mr.  Gutmann 
to  collect  it. 

Agent's  Opinion. — It  does  not  seem  possible  to  get  much  information  about 
this  family.  Their  income  is  insufficient,  and  the  chances  are  they  never  will  be 
much  better  off.  We  have  almost  no  information  about  Mr.  Gutmann,  and  what 
we  know  is  hardly  to  his  credit.  There  is  also  a  question  about  Mrs.  Gutmann's 
health.     Agent  cannot  recommend  the  home  as  an  adoption  home. 

This  is  a  typical  example  of  the  home  which,  on  first  inquiry,  seems 
passably  good — ^in  other  words,  a  "border-line  home."  The  finances 
might,  at  a  pinch,  be  adequate.  The  family  undoubtedly  would  be 
devoted  to  a  child,  the  living  conditions — a  house  in  an  open  neighbor- 
hood— are  moderately  good,  the  woman  is  fairly  intelligent,  and  until 
one  gets  well  under  the  surface,  there  is  apparently  "nothing  against" 
the  family.  With  the  exception  of  the  man's  dishonesty — ^not  re- 
vealed by  the  given  references — there  is  nothing  flagrantly  objection- 
able about  them.    Their  own  references,  though  they  were  vague  and 

[63] 


not  well  informed,  spoke  well  of  them.  An  inexperienced  investigator, 
influenced  possibly  by  their  obviously  sincere  feeling  for  the  child, 
might  recommend  them.  The  experienced  investigator  will  keep  on 
till  she  gets  conclusive  evidence  for  or  against.  In  this  case  the  two 
independent  references  were  able  to  furnish  information  which  shifted 
the  application  from  the  "border-line"  to  the  "disapproved**  class. 


64] 


CHAPTER  III 
PLACING  THE  CHILD 

The  choice  of  the  most  suitable  home  available  for  any  child  is  in  a 
sense  the  climax  of  the  two  long  processes  of  getting  information  about 
the  child  and  examining  the  home.  All  the  elements,  both  of  the 
child^s  situation  and  the  foster  family's,  must  be  considered. 

Experience  has  proved  beyond  a  doubt  that  the  success  of  your 
placement  depends  to  a  great  extent  upon  what  you  know  of  the  two 
elements  of  which  it  is  composed.  A  searching  inquiry  into  the  cir- 
cumstances and  character  of  the  foster  family  and  an  equally  careful 
observation  of  the  child  will  go  far  to  obviate  failure. 

The  Selective  Process. — It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  every  place- 
ment is  a  special  problem.  Nearly  every  child  has  some  physical  or 
temperamental  need  or  some  factors  in  his  heredity  which  demand  a 
specially  chosen  and  adapted  home.  Practically  never  does  the  agency 
have  a  child — "the  nice  normal  child" — who  can  fit  in  anywhere. 
This  naturally  is  truest  of  the  older  children,  whose  personal  traits  are 
more  developed  and  whose  past  lives  have  left  a  sharper  impress  on 
them.  Often  four  or  five  homes  will  have  to  be  considered  and  dis- 
carded as  unsuitable  f o  r  the  child  in  question  before  the  right  one  is 
found.  This  selective  process  may  range  from  the  choice  of  a  well- 
to-do  family  who  spend  their  winters  in  Florida  for  a  child  of  tubercu- 
lous parents,  to  the  placement  of  a  high-strung  boy  who  steals,  with  a 
woman  especially  interested  in  the  training  of  nervous  children. 

Drawbacks  of  Delayed  Placements. — It  is,  however,  clearly  impos- 
sible to  hold  a  child  indefinitely  in  a  temporary  home  ^  while  one  hxmts 
the  perfect  family  for  him.    This  should  not  be  construed  as  a  contra- 


This  agency  does  only  temporary  boarding  work. 
5  [651 


diction  to  what  was  previously  said  about  the  supply  of  safe  and  good 
homes;  for  a  home  may  be  that  and  yet  fall  short  in  some  respects  of 
the  best  home  for  the  child  in  question.  This  sort  of  waiting  is  hard  on 
the  child  as  well  as  demoraUzing  for  him.  Both  the  boarding  mother 
and  the  child  recognize  the  temporary  nature  of  the  child's  stay,  and 
the  feeling  of  insecurity  thus  created  is  painful  and  harmful.  "It 
doesn't  seem  worth  while  to  do  that  for  the  child — he's  going  to  be 
here  such  a  short  time."  Rather  than  have  the  child  become  aware  of 
this  feeling,  it  is  better  to  accept  the  home  which  most  nearly  approxi- 
mates the  ideal  home,  realizing  its  Umitations,  and  as  far  as  possible 
matching  the  home  to  the  child. 

Choosing  the  Child  for  the  Family. — Equally,  of  course,  nearly 
every  family  requires,  consciously  or  unconsciously,  a  special  type  of 
child.  The  question  of  disciphne,  the  living  conditions,  various  family 
situations  may  demand  a  child  of  a  particular  type.  It  is  practically 
impossible  to  meet  all  the  demands  of  the  foster  -parents,  whose  re- 
quirements may  range  all  the  way  from,  "  I  don't  care  what  it  is  like  so 
long  as  it's  a  baby,"  to,  "We  must  have  a  child  who  can  go  to  Yale 
later.  My  husband's  heart  would  be  broken  if  his  son  did  not  go  to 
Yale."  Every  attempt  is  made  to  give  the  family  the  kind  of  child 
which  they  desire,  from  the  point  of  view  of  heredity  as  well  as  of 
personality. 

The  Association  makes  the  preliminary  choice  among  its  available 
children;  it  does  not  show  a  large  group  of  children  to  the  family, 
leaving  the  first  choice  to  them.  This  is  sure  to  cause  complications. 
The  family  are  often  most  strongly  attracted  to  a  child  whose  back- 
ground and  whose  personality  make  it  improbable  that  he  will  be  able 
to  live  up  to  their  requirements.  It  is  then  hard  to  detach  their  inter- 
est from  this  child  and  transfer  it  to  a  child  more  likely  in  the  long  run 
to  satisfy  them.  The  society,  with  its  knowledge  of  its  children,  is  in  a 
better  position  than  the  family  to  make  this  first  selection. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  there  is,  after  all,  only  a 
limited  number  of  children  available  for  free  home  placements,  be- 
cause many  dependent  children  have  family  connections  which  must 
not  be  severed.    The  foster  family  must,  therefore,  expect  to  make 

[66] 


concessions  and  to  take  a  child  who  in  some  respects  falls  short  of  their 
requirements,  if  they  are  to  get  a  child  at  all.  The  family  have  no 
more  chance  of  getting  the  perfect  child  by  waiting  than  has  the  soci- 
ety of  getting  the  perfect  home. 

Meeting  Between  Family  and  Child. — ^The  circumstances  under 
which  the  appUcants  first  see  the  child  have  often  a  decisive  influence 
on  their  choice.  The  effect  of  good  clothes  on  the  child's  appearance 
and  consequently  on  the  impression  that  he  makes  is  a  disproportion- 
ately important  factor.  One  might  expect  that  the  more  forlorn  the 
child  looked,  the  more  the  foster  mother's  heart  would  go  out  to  him — 
but  this  rarely  happens.  It  is  well  to  remember  that  almost  every 
woman  is  thinking,  while  she  looks  the  child  over,  "What  will  my 
family  and  friends  think  about  this  child?  Shall  I  be  ashamed  to  take 
him  about  with  me?"  It  is  usually  hard  for  them  to  imagine  the 
change  that  a  few  weeks  of  good  care  will  make  in  the  child's  looks. 
They  picture  themselves  always  going  about  with  a  child  who  looks 
fatally  like  a  "charity  child."  Good  clothes  and  well-cut  or  well- 
arranged  hair  will  make  a  vast  difference  in  this  first  and  usually  de- 
cisive impression. 

It  is  equally  important  that  the  interview  should  take  place  under 
conditions  which  will  leave  the  child  as  unembarrassed  as  possible. 
The  office  is  usually  a  bad  place  for  this,  as  the  child  is  so  often  ill  at 
ease  there,  associating  it  with  doctors  and  hospitals  and  with  his  re- 
moval from  his  own  home.  Often  he  will  hardly  talk  at  all,  so  that  the 
appUcants  get  a  disappointing  and  unfair  impression  of  him.  If  the 
meeting  can  be  at  the  house  of  some  friend  or  at  the  home  of  the 
family  it  is  more  apt  to  make  the  child  easy  and  natural.  There  are 
toys  and  new  surroundings  to  interest  him  and  he  will  be  less  self- 
conscious.  Sometimes  the  family  will  take  the  child  for  a  short  visit 
so  that  they  can  get  acquainted  at  their  leisure.  This  reUeves  the 
child  of  the  strain  of  being  looked  over  at  the  office,  which  eygn  the 
little  child  feels  keenly,  and  it  gives  the  foster  parents  time  to  make  up 
their  minds. 

Information  Given  Family  About  Child. — Every  facility  is  given  the 
family  to  satisfy  themselves  about  the  heredity  and  the  character  of 

[671 


the  child  whom  they  are  considering.  As  a  rule,  they  are  content  with 
the  information  contained  in  the  child's  record,  but  if  they  wish  more, 
an  effort  is  made  to  secure  it.  Such  information  may  be  relatively 
unimportant,  and  therefore  omitted  in  the  original  record,  but  still  of 
considerable  interest  to  the  foster  family.  They  may  ask  for  a  copy  of 
the  baptismal  certificate  or  the  exact  hour  of  the  child's  birth,  or  wish 
to  know  the  height,  appearance,  and  complexion  of  the  grandparents. 
The  record  of  the  child  is  not,  except  very  rarely,  given  into  their 
hands,  but  the  information  contained  in  it  is  told  them  fully  and 
frankly.  Some  details  which  would  merely  repel  them,  without  adding 
anything  essential  to  their  knowledge,  are  withheld.  If  they  wish, 
they  may  talk  with  the  office  doctor  who  made  the  physical  examina- 
tion or  they  may  bring  in  their  own  doctor  to  examine  the  child.  They 
may  have  a  second  Wassermann  test  made.  They  may  examine  the 
report  of  the  psychologist. 

When  the  family  live  at  such  a  distance  from  the  office  that  it  is 
impossible  for  them  to  come  to  see  the  child,  they  are  given  all  pos- 
sible information;  a  photograph,  a  description  of  the  child's  appear- 
ance, his  disposition  and  intelligence,  and  in  the  first  letter  a  few  facts 
about  his  heredity.  These  facts,  Hke  those  given  verbally  to  the 
applicants  who  call  at  the  office,  are  given  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it 
^^fc"  impossible  for  them  to  identify  the  child.  If  the  family  are  favorably 
impressed  and  desire  more  information,  a  summary  of  the  history  is 
sent  them.  Here  there  is  a  vast  difference  between  the  amount  of  in- 
formation demanded  by  one  family  or  another.  "  Pick  me  out  a  nice 
fat  baby,"  a  farmer's  wife  may  write,  while  the  minister's  wife  may  in- 
sist on  knowing,  in  addition  to  everything  else,  whether  the  child's 
great-grandparents  showed  any  sign  of  alcoholism  and  whether  the 
child's  blue  eyes  are  *'a  cold  shallow  blue  or  a  deep  blue." 

Preparing  the  Family. — In  the  placement  of  all  but  the  babies  the 
agency  will  usually  find  that  it  increases  the  chances  of  a  successful 
outcome  by  preparing  the  family  beforehand.  For  example,  a  family 
recently  took  a  very  difficult  and  active  boy  of  seven.  They  saw  him 
at  the  office  first,  and  when  it  was  clear  that  they  were  interested,  they 
were  told  something  of  his  difficulties :  how  he  had  nearly  set  fire  to  his 

[68  1 


boarding  home  and  had  worn  out  a  succession  of  boarding  mothers ; 
of  his  incessant  activity  and  his  impenetrability  to  discipline;  of  his 
physical  difficulties,  which  made  a  careful  diet  and  regular  periods  of 
rest  essential.  They  were  also,  of  course,  told  of  his  exceptional  intel- 
ligence and  his  more  lovable  traits.  The  agent  talked  over  with  them 
the  recommendations  of  the  different  people  who  had  worked  with  the 
boy.  When  they  finallj'-  took  him  home,  they  knew  nearly  as  much 
about  him  as  the  agency  did. 

This  method  would  not  work  with  every  family;  many  families  are 
not  interested  in  hearing  much  about  the  child  beforehand,  and  some 
would  be  so  alarmed  at  the  risks  suggested  that  they  would  drop  out 
entirely.  But  a  degree  of  preparation,  suited  to  the  family,  will  prob- 
ably be  found  better  than  no  preparation  at  all.  This  may  be  done 
both  by  the  investigator  and  by  the  office  agent  who  makes  the 
placement. 

Obviously  there  are  certain  kinds  of  preparation  which  should  al- 
ways be  suggested ;  information  about  diet,  hours  of  sleep  or  any  special 
physical  care  which  the  child  may  need.  If  the  child  has  any  par- 
ticular habit  which  needs  watching  and  correcting,  the  family  should, 
of  course,  know  it  in  advance.  If  the  child  has  had  a  very  unhappy  or 
frightening  experience,  the  family  will  be  better  able  to  meet  any 
emergency  if  they  know  about  it.  If  he  has  been  badly  neglected,  it 
is  only  fair  to  the  child  to  make  the  family  understand  this,  so  that 
they  will  be  patient  with  his  possible  unresponsiveness  or  slowness  in 
learning. 

But  over  and  above  these  more  obvious  suggestions  is  the  advice 
which  so  many  foster  families  need  about  the  experiment  in  general. 
Not  to  expect  too  much  of  the  child  all  at  once,  not  to  insist  on  his 
being  this  or  that  type  of  child  instead  of  the  child  that  he  naturally 
is,  not  to  look  for  too  great  a  demonstration  of  affection  all  at  once, 
and,  above  all,  not  to  look  for  gratitude — these  are  all  lessons  which 
most  families  have  no  idea  that  they  need  to  learn.  No  one  can  have 
watched  the  process  of  a  child's  adaptation  to  a  home  without  realizing 
how  much  more  most  foster  parents  instinctively  expect  from  the  child 
than  he  can  possibly  give.    This  kind  of  thing  is  naturally  extremely 

[69] 


complicated  to  explain  to  most  foster  parents — sometimes  most  diffi- 
cult to  the  most  intelligent — ^but  some  idea  of  it  should  certainly  be 
conveyed  before  the  child  goes  to  their  home.  It  may  be  as  simple 
as  telling  them  that  the  child's  table  manners  are  bad  because  he  has 
never  had  any  training,  or  it  may  be  as  complicated  as  explaining  that 
the  child  may  for  a  while  be  sullen  because  he  has  had  an  unhappy 
experience  in  one  foster  home  and  is  suspicious  of  another. 

Preparing  the  Child. — Not  only  should  the  family  be  prepared,  but 
the  child,  if  he  is  old  enough  to  understand  it,  should  be  given  some 
idea  of  the  change  that  is  to  be  made  in  his  life.  With  little  children 
such  preparation  is  naturally  less  necessary,  but  the  older  the  child, 
the  more  advisable  it  is  to  enlist  his  interest  and  his  willingness  to 
make  the  experiment  a  success.  More  than  that,  one  owes  it  to  the 
child.  It  is  only  fair  to  take  him  somewhat  into  one's  confidence  and 
to  reassure  him.  Talking  the  home  over  beforehand,  explaining  it  a 
little,  giving  the  child  an  idea  of  what  the  family  expect,  will  often 
make  the  transition  easier  for  both  family  and  child.  It  gives  the  child 
a  chance  to  say  something  of  his  own  feelings,  which  are  often  hard  to 
penetrate,  and  it  will  increase  his  confidence  in  the  society  to  feel  that 
he  has  been  in  a  way  consulted.  Very  often  the  boy  or  girl  will  have  a 
preference,  such  as  a  desire  to  be  in  the  country  or  to  go  to  a  trade 
school,  to  be  in  a  home  where  there  are  no  young  children,  or  to  take 
care  of  a  baby,  which  can  easily  enter  into  the  plans  which  the  society 
is  making.  Following  these  preferences  as  far  as  possible  is  an  effective 
way  of  keeping  the  child's  confidence  and  good  will.  This  preliminary 
talk  with  the  child  may  be  also  the  opportunity  of  explaining  in  the 
easiest  way  some  of  the  reasons  why  he  cannot  go  back  to  his  own 
home,  a  fact  about  which  many  of  these  children  are  confused. 

In  talking  over  plans  with  the  child  it  is  advisable  not  to  be  too  final 
about  them.  Many  children  oppose  the  idea  of  any  change,  remem- 
bering their  removal  from  their  own  homes.  With  such  children  it  is 
simpler  to  suggest  that  they  "try  it  for  a  while"  than  to  say  impera- 
tively that  they  must  do  it.  It  is  true,  however,  that  there  are  many 
children  eager  for  a  home,  who  really  plan  for  it  and  count  on  it,  and 
with  such  children  the  preparation  is  a  comparatively  simple  affair. 

[70] 


Separating  ChUdren  of  One  Family. — The  question  of  separating 
the  children  of  one  family  in  order  to  find  homes  for  all  of  them  is  a 
moot  point.  Often  it  is  necessary  to  choose  between  placing  the  chil- 
dren in  different  homes  or  not  placing  them  at  all.  Is  it  wise  to  deprive 
a  sister  of  a  good  home  because  the  family  will  not  take  her  brother 
also?  There  are  not  many  famiUes  who  are  willing  to  take  more  than 
one  child,  at  least  at  the  start.  One  has  to  consider  whether  a  foster 
father  and  mother,  or  his  own  brother  and  sister,  will  mean  more  to  the 
child  as  he  grows  older.  Experience  would  indicate  that  a  normal 
household  life  is  more  important  to  the  average  child  than  nearness  to 
a  brother  or  sister,  when  that  nearness  is  purchased  at  the  cost  of  a 
permanent  foster  home. 

One  must  ask  oneself,  however,  whether  the  separation  of  two 
brothers  is  going  to  be  so  serious  a  shock  to  them  that  no  homes,  how- 
ever satisfactory,  will  make  it  up  to  them?  Or,  a  more  practical  ques- 
tion, will  it  be  impossible  for  them  ever  to  take  root  in  new  homes? 
Should  the  fact  that  two  sisters  quarrel  constantly  be  taken  as  a  sign 
that  they  are  better  off  apart?  If  two  brothers  are  placed  together  and 
one  proves  unsatisfactory  and  has  to  be  returned,  should  the  other 
brother  be  removed  too?  All  these  questions  must  be  met  as  they 
arise,  and  it  is  impossible  to  make  rules  which  will  always  apply. 
However,  it  can  be  said  that  it  is  seldom  necessary  to  separate  two 
young  children  as  there  are  usually  enough  families  who  are  willing  to 
take  them.  It  is  for  the  children  between  five  and  twelve  that  the 
break  is  hardest.  The  Association  has  arranged  in  many  instances  for 
correspondence  between  older  brothers  and  sisters,  when  it  has  been 
necessary  to  separate  them,  by  having  the  letters  pass  through  the 
office.  This  plan  is  always  made  with  the  consent  of  the  foster  fami- 
lies. Every  such  case  must  be  individually  considered.  The  visitor 
who  knows  the  children  best  must  find  out  as  far  as  she  can  how  strong 
is  the  feeling  between  the  children  and  how  heavily  it  would  weigh 
against  the  child's  desire  for  a  father  and  mother.  In  cases  where  the 
feeling  is  strong,  the  agency  will  work  for  an  indefinite  time  to  keep 
the  children  together. 

Much  may  be  done  toward  finding  a  home  for  two  or  more  children 

[711 


of  the  same  family  by  advertising,  by  interesting  committees  and 
every  friend  of  the  work,  and  by  getting  people  to  take  children  for  a 
visit,  "to  see  how  it  works  out." 

There  is  one  element  in  this  situation  which  often  forces  the  society 
to  separate  children  of  one  family,  and  that  is  the  unwillingness  of 
most  poor  law  ofl&cials  in  New  York  state  to  support  the  children 
indefinitely  in  a  temporary  home  until  they  can  be  permanently  placed 
together. 

Only  in  exceptional  cases  is  a  boy  or  girl  placed  in  a  family  where 
there  is  a  girl  or  boy  of  the  same  age.  When  the  foster  mother  is  un- 
usually capable  of  handling  the  problem,  it  may  be  done,  or  when 
there  are  advantages  which  outweigh  the  risks.  Needless  to  say,  the 
character  of  the  children  in  question  must  be  thoroughly  known  and 
the  children  carefully  selected. 

A  Placement  Record 

A  Carefully  Selected  Home. — The  case  which  follows  illustrates  a 
selective  process  which  is  frequent  in  child-placing.  It  shows  the  need 
of  choosing  a  special  type  of  home  for  a  child  with  certain  handicaps; 
a  process  which  naturally  is  called  for  more  frequently  with  the  older 
and  more  difl&cult  children. 

Julia  Murray  was  ten  when  her  case  was  referred  to  the  agency.  Her  history 
was  meager.  She  was  the  child  of  a  travehng  man  and  a  woman,  unmarried, 
who  gave  the  baby  soon  after  birth  to  a  notorious  woman.  This  woman  and 
three  others  Uved  with  a  dissolute  man  by  the  name  of  Charles  Murray,  who 
cohabited  with  all  of  them.  It  became  known  to  the  local  children's  agent  that 
Julia  was  sleeping  with  Charles  Murray.  She  was  removed  on  the  charge  of 
improper  guardianship.  In  addition  to  the  immorality  of  the  home,  there  was 
constant  poverty  and  brawUng.  Julia  was  brought  to  New  York  and  was  given 
a  mental  and  physical  examination.  The  physical  examination  showed  an 
abnormally  large  head,  but  no  other  marked  pecuUarities.  The  mental  examina- 
tion report  was:  Physical  age,  ten  years  and  one  month;  mental  age,  eight  years 
and  one  month.  The  examiner  considered  her  not  at  all  promising.  Her  Was- 
sermann  test  and  test  for  gonococcal  infection  were  negative.  It  was  thought 
best  to  keep  her  under  observation  for  a  time  and  to  test  her  again  before  de- 
ciding what  was  to  be  done  with  her.  At  the  end  of  that  period,  when  she  was 
nearly  thirteen,  the  following  report  was  received  concerning  her  progress : 

"When  Julia  entered  here  she  was  tested  and  received  a  rating  mentally  of 
over  two  years  behind  her  physical  age.     She  was  very  backward  about  making 

[72] 


friends,  did  not  like  school,  and  appeared  to  regard  every  one  as  her  natural 
enemy.  All  these  traits  had  to  be  handled  very  carefully,  and  there  were  times 
when  it  seemed  that  Julia  could  never  be  made  to  feel  thoroughly  at  ease  among 
the  other  children.  But  the  last  six  months  she  has  changed  remarkably,  she 
now  plays  normally  with  all  the  girls,  is  well  liked  by  them,  and  her  school  work 
has  improved,  although  it  is  still  hard  for  her.  However,  she  shows  great  de- 
termination and  is  determined  to  get  through  the  5B  grade  this  June.  A  recent 
test  I  gave  her  rates  her  barely  a  year  behind  her  normal  age  and  in  some  ways 

she  is  ahead  of  the  average.     Dr. ,  who  tested  her  thoroughly  yesterday, 

found  her  well  able  to  hold  her  own  along  most  lines,  and  this  fact,  together  with 
her  marked  improvement  in  disposition,  has  led  me  to  hope  that  a  family  home 
may  be  found  for  her.  JuUa  is  certainly  an  appealing  girl,  anxious  for  love  and 
affection,  and  very  ready  to  return  it.  Careful  inquiries  among  her  teachers  and 
supervisors  fail  to  reveal  any  'bad'  or  unusual  traits  and  all  speak  well  of  the 
child." 

With  these  facts  in  view  the  agency  prepared  to  find  a  home  for  Julia.  Among 
the  factors  to  be  considered  was  the  very  obvious  one  of  locaUty.  It  was  im- 
perative that  she  should  not  be  placed  anywhere  in  her  old  neighborhood  as  her 
former  foster  father  had  sworn  to  get  her  back.  She  was  the  kind  of  child  who 
needed  plenty  of  outdoor  life  and  an  environment  where  the  details  of  refinement 
that  mean  so  much  to  many  foster  parents  would  not  be  demanded  of  her.  An 
active  hfe  in  simple  surroimdings  was  indicated  by  her  natural  tastes.  She  was 
not  the  kind  of  girl  who  would  appeal  to  a  family  who  wanted  a  refined  child 
whom  they  could  dress  daintily  and  send  to  a  finishing  school.  Nor  was  she  inde- 
pendent enough  for  the  family  who  wanted  a  girl  of  vigorous  inteUigence,  who 
could  learn  to  make  her  own  way  later.  Owing  to  her  early  circumstances,  which 
indicated  quite  clearly  that  she  had  been  exposed  to  a  premature  sexual  experience, 
it  did  not  seem  safe  to  place  her  in  a  home  with  younger  children,  as  is  so  often 
done  with  a  girl  of  this  age,  for  fear  of  her  communicating  to  them  something  of 
her  own  experience.  Again  because  of  those  experiences  it  was  a  question  whether 
it  were  safe  to  place  her  in  a  home  where  there  was  a  man.  It  had  been  clear  when 
she  was  removed  from  her  own  home  that  she  was  overfond  of  men  and  boys. 
It  was  felt  that  her  behavior  with  men  might  be  of  two  types:  aversion  and  dis- 
trust because  of  her  previous  hard  experience  or  an  excessive  interest.  Neither 
of  these  gave  much  hope  of  a  successful  outcome.  There  was  also  her  mental 
backwardness  to  be  considered.  Although  she  had  made  excellent  progress  in  the 
past  two  or  three  years,  there  was  no  doubt  that  she  was  slow  mentally  and  found 
school  work  difficult.  That  eliminated  for  her  a  home  where  much  would  be 
expected  of  her  in  an  educational  way.  A  home  where  she  would  be  treated  as 
something  of  a  servant  was  obviously  inadvisable,  as  she  was  an  unusually 
affectionate  girl,  rather  childlike  in  her  desire  for  affection  and  interest. 

The  home  which  was  finally  chosen  and  in  which  she  has  been  for 
more  than  two  years  is  described  in  the  following  report,  which  has 
been  condensed. 


73] 


Investigation  of  Foster  Home 

Family. — Miss  Martha  Stone  is  an  American  of  about  fifty  years  of  age,  Protes- 
tant. She  is  tall,  with  somewhat  thin  hair  turning  slightly  gray  above  the  temples. 
She  was  quite  reserved  at  first,  but  showed  kindliness  and  friendliness.  Miss 
Stone  has  had  a  public  school  education  and  has  gained  quite  a  reputation  both 
in and  her  old  home, ,  as  a  practical  nurse. 

History. — Miss  Stone  was  born  in  Connecticut,  but  moved  while  very  young 

to .     She  lived  there  all  her  life  until  she  came  to five  years  ago.     While 

in she  had  some  very  practical  care  of  children,  looking  after  the  children 

of  her  brother.  She  also  displayed  in  that  town  a  keen  sense  of  conamunity  spirit. 
She  had  charge  of  a  small  public  library  in  her  old  home. 

With  her  lives  Miss  Brace,  a  woman  about  sixty  years  old.     Miss  Stone  and 

Miss  Brace  are  old  friends,  having  lived  together  many  years  at .     Miss 

Brace  is  an  American  of  Protestant  religion.    She  has  been  in for  three 

years.  She  is  tall  and  walks  with  a  swinging,  buoyant  step.  Her  hair  is  quite 
gray,  but  her  face  expresses  a  youthful  humor  and  charm.  Her  manner  is  cordial 
and  easy.  She  is  a  farmer  and  takes  entire  care  of  50  acres  of  ground.  She 
sometimes  has  a  man  to  assist  in  the  heaviest  work 

Home. — The  environment  is  typically  country.    The  school  is  half  a  mile 

away  in and  also  the  church.    The  child  would  attend  the  Presbyterian 

Sunday  School.  The  home  is  an  old  stone  farm-house,  small,  plain,  extremely 
neat  looking.  It  is  situated  in  a  lonely,  lovely  ountry,  with  tiny  fields  and  low 
hills  all  about.  The  nearest  neighbors  are  in  the  village,  one-half  mile  away. 
The  first  floor  is  a  sort  of  basement  arrangement.  Here  they  have  their  kitchen, 
a  large,  airy  room,  and  off  the  kitchen  a  store-room.  The  hving  room  is  a  livable 
looking  room,  with  old  New  England  charm.  Everything  is  exquisitely  neat. 
Besides  the  Hving  room  there  are  three  rooms  rented  to  their  paying  summer 
guests.  A  stairway  leads  to  a  half-story  attic.  There  are  two  attic  rooms  on  this 
floor,  and  these  are  occup  ed  by  Miss  Stone  and  Miss  Brace.  The  general  condi- 
tion of  the  place  is  good.  There  is  no  bath  in  the  house,  and  there  is  an  outside 
toilet.  It  was  in  good  condition.  There  is  a  small-sized  barn  several  hundred 
feet  from  the  house,  and  it  looked  in  fairly  good  condition. 

Finances. — Miss  Stone  has  not  been  employed  in  any  capacity  exceptinglby  her 
brother  as  a  nurse  for  his  children  and  has  done  nursing  in  cases  of  light  iUness. 
Even  now  she  sometimes  goes  out  to  nurse  friends  or  neighbors.  She  does  very 
little  of  this  because  her  summer  boarders  keep  her  very  busy.  Miss  Stone  and 
Miss  Brace  own  their  own  home  and  50  acres  of  land.  From  this  farm  they  de- 
rive a  comfortable  living.  To  help  matters  along  they  have  their  summer  guests, 
and  they  hope,  when  the  new  bungalow  is  finished,  to  have  from  eight  to  ten 
boarders,  each  one  paying  ten  dollars  a  week.     (This  was  in  1918.) 

Social  Connections. — Miss  Stone  belongs  to  the  Presb3i,erian  Church.  They 
are  in  very  close  touch  with  all  church  social  activities  and  they  have  many 
friends  in  the  village. 

Child  Desired. — Miss  Stone  said  she  would  be  unable  to  come  to  New  York  to 
see  a  child;  that  she  would  trust  to  the  judgment  of  the  S.  C.  A.  A.  in  selecting 
the  kind  best  suited  to  her  needs.  She  would  like  a  Uttle  girl  about  twelve  years 
of  age.  She  is  taking  her  for  companionship  and  to  do  small  errands.  She  be- 
Ueves  a  country  child  would  be  best,  and  they  would  like  some  one  who  would  be 

174] 


able  to  fit  in  nicely  with  their  home  life.  If  the  child  is  satisfactory,  she  hopes  to 
adopt  her  and  bring  her  up  as  her  own  girl. 

References. — Mrs.  A.  H., ,  New  York.     Mrs.  H.  said  she  could  always 

say  a  good  word  for  Miss  Stone.  She  has  known  Miss  Stone  for  five  years — the 
longer  she  knows  her  the  better  she  likes  her;  in  fact,  Miss  Stone  is  liked  by  every 
one  in  the  village,  and  she  holds  quite  a  place  in  the  communit  .  As  for  a  child 
being  placed  there,  she  thought  it  would  be  splendid  for  both  the  child  and  Miss 
Stone.  She  mentioned  Miss  Stone's  excellent  training  in  the  care  of  children. 
She  recommended  Miss  Stone  as  well  as  Miss  Brace  very  highly.  Agent  feels 
that  Mrs.  H.  is  a  sensible  woman  and  would  have  good  judgment  about  a  home  for 
a  child. 

Mrs.  D.  A.  and  Mrs.  E.  B., ,  New  York.    Agent  called  to  see  Mrs.  A. 

and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  B.  They  have  a  farm  just  on  the  edge  of  the  village. 
Their  place  looked  quite  prosperous,  and  the  references  seemed  of  good  standing 
and  respectable  people.  Mrs.  A  spoke  of  Miss  Stone's  knowledge  of  practical 
nursing.  She  said  she  was  unusually  efficient,  besides  being  a  very  kindly  and 
gentle  woman.  Mrs.  B.  said  she  felt  that  Miss  Stone  has  a  way  with  children 
most  unusual  in  a  woman  of  her  age.  Mrs.  B.  has  a  little  boy  and  she  said  she 
has  often  seen  Miss  Stone's  attitude  toward  this  httle  boy.  They  both  have 
known  Miss  Stone  for  three  years. 

Independent  Reference. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.,  the  B Hotel, ,  New 

York,  good  independent  references.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  said  that  Miss  Stone  is  a 
very  kind,  intelligent  woman.  They  seemed  to  feel  Miss  Brace  is  very  unusual 
because  she  is  a  farmer.  They  spoke  of  Miss  Stone's  good  standing  in  the  village, 
and  felt  a  child  would  have  devoted  and  loving  care  with  these  two  women. 

Agent's  Opinion. — ^Agent  feels  this  home  would  be  ideal  for  a  child  accustomed 
to  the  quietness  of  the  coimtry,  for  there  prevails  in  the  whole  place  a  certain 
quiet,  natural,  homey  atmosphere.  Any  child  responding  to  their  care  would  be 
greatly  loved  and  could  be  very  happy. 


Miss  Stone  had  written  before  Julia  went  to  her,  "I  have  always 
had  children  with  me  until  recently,  and  I  miss  their  brightness.  She 
will,  of  course,  have  her  duties  and  work  to  do,  but  no  more  than  will 
be  good  for  her.  We  are  two  women  making  a  home  for  ourselves  and 
we  will  share  it  with  her."  Just  before  Julia  was  to  go  there  Miss 
Stone  wrote  her  a  little  note  welcoming  her,  and  the  agent  who  called 
to  take  her  out  to  the  country  found  JuUa  delighted  with  it  and  read- 
ing and  rereading  it. 

There  were,  of  course,  many  difficulties  in  adapting  Julia  even  to 
this  kindly  home,  but  there  has  been  good  feeling  on  the  part  of  both 
Miss  Stone  and  Julia  to  help  in  the  settling  down.  The  last  report  re- 
ceived, which  came  from  Julia's  teacher,  said,  "JuUa  is  doing  very 
well  in  school.    She  has  a  very  nice  home,  and  is  apparently  very 

[75  1 


happy  in  it.  She  is  showing  a  steady  improvement  in  character,  is 
developing  habits  of  industry  and  neatness,  and  a  taste  for  the  better 
things  of  Ufe.  She  particularly  pleases  me  by  showing  a  marked  de- 
gree of  improvement  in  truthfulness  and  in  confidence  in  her  friends. 
I  have  grown  fond  of  the  child  and  am  very  much  interested  in  her 
training." 

It  should  perhaps  be  added  that,  although  there  seemed  a  possi- 
biUty  of  overwork  here,  later  supervision  showed  no  such  difficulty. 


Choosing  Homes  for  Older  Children 

The  choice  of  a  home  for  a  child  over  twelve  presents  a  different 
problem  from  that  of  the  placement  of  a  young  child.  For  one  thing, 
the  older  girls  and  boys  have  probably  been  recently  taken  away  from 
their  own  homes  and  are  consequently  resentful  and  distrustful.  They 
are  not  hkely  to  take  kindly  to  new  parents.  Therefore  it  is  not  always 
possible  for  the  family  to  treat  them  as  sons  and  daughters.  Such  an 
attitude  in  the  children  will  never  yield  to  forcing.  Much  better  to 
leave  it  alone  and  to  concentrate  on  trying  to  understand  and  to  solve 
the  child's  particular  problems. 

One  obvious  difficulty  with  these  placements  is  the  neglect  and  vice 
in  the  midst  of  which  these  children  have  grown  up,  and  which  have 
usually  resulted  in  faults  which  will  need  patient  correction.  There 
are  also  the  children  who  have  had  Httle  recent  experience  of  family 
life,  coming  from  institutions,  and  who  must  be  helped  through  the 
period  of  adaptation  to  life  in  the  ordinary  household.  This,  together 
with  the  suspicion  and  resentment  which  make  up  so  large  a  part  of 
the  consciousness  of  children  forcibly  taken  from  their  own  homes, 
forms  a  problem  which  calls  for  imderstanding  and  patience  on  the 
part  of  the  foster  parents. 

Simple  Homes  Preferred. — One  general  rule  has  been  found  to  hold 
good  in  these  placements,  and  that  is  that  the  children  are  much 
happier — and  therefore  more  successful — in  simpler  homes,  nearer 
their  own  level,  than  in  homes  which  are  too  refined  and  too  remote 
socially  from  the  children's  original  environment.    A  girl  placed  in  a 

[76] 


suburban  home  with  a  young  couple,  possibly  college  people,  where 
she  is  to  help  with  the  baby  and  be  treated  as  a  member  of  the  family, 
is  not  nearly  so  happy  as  a  girl  in  a  plain  country  home,  where  she  may 
have  to  work  twice  as  hard  and  have  half  the  advantages,  but  where 
she  feels  at  home  and  takes  share  and  share  alike  with  the  family. 

In  the  home  of  better  social  and  intellectual  standards  she  cannot 
really  become  a  member  of  the  family  unless  both  she  and  the  family 
are  exceptional.  The  training  may  be  far  more  intelligent  in  the  more 
cultured  home,  but  the  personal  interest  is  usually  lacking  and  it  is 
that  that  decides  the  girl's  happiness  and  her  progress.  The  position  of 
a  girl  in  these  "superior  homes"  is  usually  anomalous.  She  is  neither 
servant  nor  member  of  the  family.  She  may  be  given  a  better  educa- 
tion, but  at  the  end  of  that  time  she  is  no  nearer  a  solution  of  her  social 
problem.  In  the  simpler  home  she  may  have  fewer  educational 
chances,  but  at  least  she  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  she  has 
as  much  as  the  family's  own  daughter  would  have.  And  she  has  a 
defined  and  acceptable  position  in  the  family  and  in  the  community 
besides. 

It  is  true  that  there  are  very  few  of  these  plainer  homes  available 
and  that  there  are  plenty  of  the  more  refined  kind,  but  when  one  can 
choose  one  would  usually  take  the  simpler  environment,  where  the  de- 
mands are  less,  the  tolerance  greater,  and  the  sense  of  equality  more 
marked. 

The  character  of  the  men  of  the  foster  family  is  an  important  factor 
in  the  placement  of  an  older  child.  The  influence  of  the  man  on  the 
boy  of  twelve  or  fourteen  may  be  a  decisive  element  in  the  boy's 
development.  The  moral  character  of  the  men  of  the  family,  when  a 
girl  is  to  be  placed  there,  is  obviously  of  prime  importance.  It  is  never 
safe  to  take  these  facts  on  trust  or  on  one's  observation.  They  should 
be  estabhshed  by  careful  and  explicit  questioning  of  the  references. 

The  attitude  of  the  family  toward  the  girl  whom  they  propose  to 
take  is  perhaps  the  most  important  element  in  the  placement.  Will 
they  take  her  into  the  family  without  making  her  feel  a  sense  of  social 
difference,  will  they  be  patient  and  imderstanding  with  her  faults  and 
her  difficulties,  will  they  be  really  interested  in  seeing  her  make  good? 

[77  1 


Or  will  they  think  of  her  as  a  charity  case,  as  some  one  who  can  be  use- 
ful and  who  will  have  to  be  kept  in  her  place?  Their  point  of  view 
more  than  anything  else  will  determine  the  success  or  failure  of  the 
venture. 

The  amount  of  work  which  is  expected,  the  opportunities  for  making 
friends  and  for  recreation  generally,  and  the  amount  of  education  for 
which  a  girl  or  boy  can  hope  should  all  be  carefully  examined. 


\ 


[78] 


CHAPTER  IV 
SUPERVISION 

In  the  novels  of  a  century  ago  the  story  ended  with  the  marriage  of 
the  hero  and  heroine.  Modern  novelists,  believing  that  this  is  the 
beginning  and  not  the  end  of  the  drama,  begin  their  tales  where  the 
older  novelists  left  off.  So  with  supervision.  To  many  people  the 
child's  vicissitudes  are  over  when  he  is  placed  in  his  foster  home,  and 
he  and  his  foster  parents  may  be  expected  to  live  happily  ever  after. 
But  the  experienced  social  worker  knows  that  those  vicissitudes  are 
often  just  beginning.  We  admit  that  all  intimate  human  relationships 
involve  the  most  deUcate  yet  radical  adjustments.  Of  few  relation- 
ships is  this  truer  than  that  of  foster  parents  and  child.  Some  children 
— and  some  parents — take  to  it  like  ducks  to  water.  Others  resist 
stubbornly.  It  is  with  these  that  supervision  must  chiefly  concern 
itself. 

We  might  describe  supervision  as  a  function  demanding  vigilance, 
sympathy  with  both  the  family  and  child,  the  ability  to  interpret  the 
one  to  the  other,  and  a  capacity  for  practical  assistance.  Often  an 
understanding  agent  can  avert  difficulties — often  she  can  explain  away 
existing  difficulties.  Her  services  may  be  only  slightly  needed  for 
years,  but  when  she  is  wanted  she  is  apt  to  be  badly  wanted. 

In  the  matter  of  supervision,  as  in  other  branches  of  child  placing, 
few  set  rules  can  be  made.  The  frequency  of  visits,  the  kind  of  school 
reports  obtained,  interviewing  of  references — all  these  vary  according 
to  the  home  and  the  child  in  question.  A  home  about  which  there  is 
question  or  a  child  whose  development  is  causing  anxiety  may  be 
visited  every  week.  A  family  who  have  had  a  child  for  a  number  of 
years  and  who  have  always  been  found  satisfactory  may  be  visited 
only  once  a  year.  The  visits  are  made  almost  invariably  without 
previous  warning  to  the  family. 

[79  1 


Facts  to  be  Obtained. — The  average  visit  should  include  inquiry 
into  these  matters :  changes  in  the  financial  situation  of  the  family  or 
in  the  personnel  of  the  household,  in  its  health  or  its  standard  of  living; 
and  with  regard  to  the  child,  into  his  health,  his  school  work,  his  rec- 
reation, his  work  outside  school  hours,  his  friends,  and  his  oppor- 
tunities for  meeting  people,  his  religious  training,  his  position  in  the 
household,  where  and  with  whom  he  sleeps,  the  condition  of  his  cloth- 
ing, his  habits  and  training,  and,  most  important  of  all,  his  own  feehng 
about  his  home  and  the  family's  feeling  for  him. 

Health. — The  child's  health  is  one  of  the  first  points  on  which  the 
visitor  should  satisfy  herself.  In  the  case  of  a  baby  she  will  keep  track 
to  some  extent  of  the  variations  in  formulae  and  weight.  We  say  to 
some  extent,  because  the  presumption  is  that  the  foster  mother  has 
put  the  baby  in  the  care  of  her  doctor  and  is  herself  intelligent  in  such 
matters.  Moreover,  these  visits  to  children  in  free  homes,  unlike  those 
to  babies  in  boarding  homes,  are  relatively  infrequent.  The  foster 
mother  must  be  trusted  to  do  the  right  thing  for  the  baby's  health.  It 
is  uncommon  in  the  experience  of  the  Association  to  find  carelessness 
or  neglect  or  even  ignorance.  The  baby's  gain  is  a  matter  of  pride  to 
the  whole  household.  In  the  case  of  older  children  the  diet  should  be 
considered,  the  amount  of  outdoor  play  which  the  child  gets,  whether 
he  sleeps  with  his  windows  open,  what  kind  of  medicine  is  given  him, 
whether  he  is  subject  to  colds,  etc.  If  a  child  loses  time  at  school  from 
illness,  if  he  looks  ill,  if  he  has  headaches,  it  will  be  wise  for  the  agent  to 
talk  with  the  family  doctor,  or,  in  some  cases,  to  arrange  to  have  the 
child  brought  to  the  office  for  an  examination  by  the  office  doctor. 
Famines  are  usually  wiUing  to  have  their  doctors  consulted  and  are 
glad  of  advice  in  medical  matters.  The  agent  may  find  it  advisable 
to  suggest  the  name  of  a  child  specialist  or  to  help  the  family  with  ar- 
rangements for  an  operation,  but  in  general  the  policy  is  to  leave  the 
responsibility  for  medical  care,  as  for  everything  else  affecting  the 
child,  to  the  family.  Sometimes  the  Association  may  force  some  sort 
of  action  upon  the  family,  may  insist  that  the  child  be  taken  to  a 
hospital  or  examined  by  a  specialist,  but  even  in  so  doing  it  will  put 
upon  the  family  the  responsibihty  of  seeing  that  this  is  done.    This 

[80] 


policy  naturally  involves  more  work  and  time  for  the  agency  than  if 
the  agent  took  the  matter  entirely  into  her  own  hands,  but  it  gives  the 
family  experience  and  a  habit  of  self-reliance  which  may  prove  of  in- 
calculable value.  To  educate  the  family  into  doing  things  itself  rather 
than  relying  upon  the  society  is  an  important  part  of  supervision. 
^-  Child's  Appearance. — Neatness  and  cleanliness  are  usually  signifi- 
cant of  the  child's  general  care.  It  is  necessary  to  most  children's 
standing  among  other  children  that  they  be  dressed  as  well  as — 
and  as  much  as  possible  like — other  children.  Often  an  older  girl  will 
herself  offer  to  show  the  agent  her  clothes,  or  the  foster  mother  will 
take  pride  in  displaying  the  clothes  she  has  made.  In  fact  the  diffi- 
culty is  often  to  keep  the  talk  about  the  child's  clothes  from  swamping 
the  interview.  A  certain  type  of  foster  mother  will  think  her  whole 
duty  done  by  the  child  when  she  has  fitted  her  out  with  hand-em- 
broidered garments.  In  this  kind  of  family  the  agent  will  have  to 
keep  her  eyes  open  for  the  more  basic  matters  of  training  and  ideals. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  mother  who  sends  her  child  to  school  in  shabby 
or  thin  or  uncouth  clothing  is  neglecting  not  only  the  child's  health, 
but  the  social  effect  of  his  appearance.  Such  a  mother  is  likely  to  be 
careless  of  more  significant  matters. 
\  Condition  of  House. — ^The  neatness  and  cleanhness  of  the  foster 
home  should,  of  course,  be  observed.  For  this  purpose  the  visitor  will 
need  to  see  more  of  the  house  than  the  parlor,  into  which  she  will 
probably  be  ushered,  or  the  kitchen,  in  which  she  will  doubtless  prefer 
to  sit.  The  foster  mother  will  probably  offer  to  show  her  the  child's 
bedroom, — ^in  any  case  she  should  see  it, — and  she  can  see  something 
of  the  general  condition  of  the  house  as  she  goes  through.  The  clean- 
liness of  the  child's  bedroom,  its  furnishings,  its  heating  and  ventila- 
tion, the  comfort  of  the  bed,  must  all  be  considered.  If  the  room  is 
shared  with  some  other  member  of  the  family,  it  is  essential  to  know 
who  and  what  that  person  is. 

\    Sleeping  Arrangements. — The  arrangement  of  the  sleeping  rooms 

of  older  children  is  of  vital  importance — not  so  much  from  the  point 

of  view  of  order,  as  of  privacy.    It  is  obvious  that  an  older  girl  should 

not  have  a  room  through  which  people  must  pass  to  get  from  one 

6  [81] 


room  to  another,  and  yet  such  arrangements  are  common.  The  agent 
should  know  exactly  who  shares  a  girl's  or  boy's  room,  who  sleeps 
nearby,  on  which  side  the  door  locks,  whether  it  is  kept  locked.  If  a 
boy  and  girl  of  about  the  same  age  are  sleeping  in  adjacent  rooms,  the 
arrangement  needs  the  most  careful  supervision  by  the  foster  parents. 
An  arrangement  of  rooms  which  leaves  the  girl  alone  on  the  floor  with 
the  hired  man  should  not  be  permitted  for  an  instant.  Even  little 
girls  should  not  be  allowed  to  sleep  in  a  room  too  near  that  of  the  son 
of  the  house  unless  the  foster  parents  are  watchful.  Placing  a  girl 
over  seven  or  eight  in  a  home  where  there  is  a  boy  somewhat  older,  or 
an  adolescent  boy  in  a  home  with  a  younger  girl,  may  create  a  dan- 
gerous situation.  The  boy  and  girl  have  not  the  safeguards  of  chil- 
dren brought  up  together,  the  habit  of  familiarity,  and  the  awakening 
of  normal  sexual  curiosity  may  be  overstimulated  by  propinquity. 
Moreover,  a  ** charity  girl"  may  be  considered  fair  prey  sexually  by  a 
man  who  would  behave  decently  with  a  girl  of  his  own  class.  A  child 
who  has  had  premature  sexual  experience,  as  some  of  these  children 
have,  is  peculiarly  Hable  to  the  dangers  of  this  sort  of  proximity.  For 
all  these  reasons  it  is  imperative  that  the  agency  guard  against  possible 
disaster  by  such  practical  methods  as  safeguarding  the  sleeping  ar- 
rangements, even  though  it  may  be  necessary  to  take  precautions 
which  to  the  lay  person  seem  extreme. 

Foster  parents  are  often  extraordinarily  imsuspecting  about  such 
matters,  and  may  resent  warnings  as  slurs  on  the  character  of  their 
son  or  daughter.  For  this  reason  the  suggestion  must  be  tactfully 
presented.  It  is  not  enough  to  say  that  if  you  investigate  carefully 
enough  beforehand  you  can  eliminate  the  homes  in  which  such  things 
can  happen.  Such  possibilities  are  unforeseeable  nine  times  out  of 
ten.  But  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  agent  and  a  warning  to  the 
foster  mother  will  often  prevent  disaster. 

In  order  to  get  a  complete  picture  of  the  child's  Hfe  in  his  foster 
home  the  routine  of  his  day  must  be  known.  For  instance:  when 
does  he  get  up  in  the  morning?  what  work  does  he  do  before  school? 
how  does  he  spend  his  evenings?  when  does  he  go  to  bed?  Needless  to 
say,  it  is  seldom  necessary  to  ask  all  these  questions  directly;   the 

[82] 


information  usually  comes  out  naturally  in  the  course  of  talk,  and 
should  do  so,  because  there  is  then  a  better  chance  of  friendliness  be- 
tween the  agent  and  the  family. 

Work. — It  seems  obvious  that  it  is  of  first  importance  in  super- 
vision to  know  how  much  work  the  child  does.  In  spite  of  this,  some 
children  are  overworked.  It  is  not  always  an  easy  thing  to  define — 
undoubtedly  it  varies  with  each  child's  physical  and  practical  ca- 
pacity—nor is  it  always  easy  to  discover.  Most  foster  children  are 
extremely  reticent  about  complaining;  they  volunteer  Httle  informa- 
tion about  what  work  they  do,  and  it  is  only  when  the  visitor  can  see 
the  child  alone  and  make  him  feel  that  he  can  trust  her  that  she  can 
discover  the  facts.  It  is  imperative,  therefore,  that  the  visitor  make 
a  point  of  getting  the  child's  confidence  in  this  as  in  other  respects. 
She  must  make  her  questions  detailed  and  concrete.  It  is  not  enough 
to  know  that  a  boy  of  ten  carries  wood  and  water;  one  should  know 
how  much  wood  he  carries  and  how  big  and  heavy  the  buckets  are 
and  what  distance  he  has  to  go  with  them.  One  must  know  how 
much  of  the  family  ironing  a  fourteen-year-old  girl  does.  Foster  par- 
ents may  be  negligent  about  making  sure  that  the  child  is  not  lifting 
weights  that  are  too  heavy,  nor  working  too  long.  It  is  the  agent's 
business  to  see  that  this  does  not  happen. 

Overwork  has  another  harmful  influence  on  the  child — and  that  is 
its  depressing  and  deadening  effect.  The  time  which  he  has  for  play 
is  an  important  factor  in  any  child's  fife,  and  one  which  some  foster 
parents,  brought  up  in  the  school  of  hard  work,  easily  forget.  Chil- 
dren must  be  protected  quite  as  much  from  the  dulling  effect  of  con- 
tinual work  as  from  the  harmful  physical  results. 

Wages. — ^The  amount  of  wages  which  should  be  paid  the  boy  or 
girl  who  has  finished  school  and  is  working  at  home  is  a  matter  which 
causes  frequent  friction  with  foster  families.  They  may  argue  that 
they  would  not  expect  to  pay  their  own  children  for  their  help.  Never- 
theless, a  family  who  take  into  their  home  a  boy  of  twelve  or  more 
usually  do  so  for  the  help  which  he  can  give.  After  he  leaves  school 
and  begins  to  work  he  should  be  adequately  paid  for  his  labor  and  his 
wages  should  be  increased  as  he  becomes  more  capable.    It  is  generally 

[83  1 


agreed  that  the  old  indenture  system  of  giving  a  boy  a  colt  or  a  calf, 
a  Bible,  and  a  hundred  dollars  when  he  reaches  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  should  be  replaced  by  the  payment  of  a  regular  wage  from  the 
time  that  the  boy  leaves  school  and  begins  to  work.  Here  again  the 
agent  must  be  watchful  in  helping  the  boy  or  girl  to  secure  fair  terms 
from  the  foster  family. 

The  type  of  work  which  the  child  does  and  the  amount  which  he  is 
paid  vary  necessarily  with  each  individual,  and  also  with  the  local 
situation.  Some  children  are  capable  of  taking  speciaUzed  trade  or 
academic  or  mechanical  training;  others  are  capable  only  of  simple 
routine  work  under  supervision.  Wages  must  vary  correspondingly. 
Moreover,  the  community  in  which  the  child  has  grown  up  may  offer 
very  limited  occupational  opportunities;  nevertheless,  the  agency 
may  not  wish  to  have  the  chUd  leave  his  foster  home  for  the  sake  of 
getting  him  a  better  job  in  a  town  fifty  miles  away,  even  though  his 
capacities  may  be  greater  than  his  opportunities.  Wages,  again, 
are  affected  by  current  market  prices,  and  cannot  be  fixed  with  much 
uniformity. 

The  fact  that  there  is  no  fixed  scale  of  work  or  wages  should  not  be 
taken  to  mean  that  the  agency  neglects  this  important  phase  of  the 
supervision  of  older  children.  It  means  simply  that  the  agent  who 
is  supervising  must  ascertain  the  child's  abihty,  his  preferences  and 
the  local  opportunities  for  work;  and  that  she  must  come  to  an  agree- 
ment with  the  family  and  the  child  as  to  what  work  the  child  shall 
do  and  what  he  shall  be  paid.  In  other  words,  each  case  will  be 
settled  individually. 

Recreation. — ^This  is  a  matter  which  the  agent  will  sometimes  have 
to  take  in  hand.  She  will  not  do  so  unless  the  foster  parents  can't 
or  won't — in  any  case  she  will  put  upon  them  as  much  responsibility 
for  it  as  she  possibly  can.  But  sometimes,  with  her  wider  knowl- 
edge of  recreational  resources, — ^gymnasium,  Y.W.C.A.  or  Y.M.C.A., 
settlement  clubs, — she  can  put  the  girl  or  boy  in  the  way  of  amuse- 
ments about  which  the  family  could  not  know.  She  may  often  be 
able  to  enlist  the  interest  of  a  Camp  Fire  leader  or  a  Boy  Scout  master 
in  the  child  in  question,  to  take  him  about  a  little  and  introduce  him 

[84] 


to  people  who  may  be  helpful.  But  she  will  try  to  make  the  family 
take  the  larger  share  in  this,  leaving  it  to  them  to  make  the  connections 
and  to  keep  them,  as  far  as  possible.  She  will  find  out,  in  the  course 
of  her  visit,  what  the  child  does  with  his  leisure,  where  he  spends  it, 
who  his  playmates  are,  and  whether  the  neighborhood  children  are 
friendly  to  him  or  whether  he  is  forced  to  play  with  the  **bad  chil- 
dren." 

\  Place  in  the  Community. — ^The  child's  part  in  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity is  one  of  the  tests  of  a  successful  placement,  and  the  agent 
will  make  it  her  business  to  find  out  what  that  part  is.  His  church 
attendance  and  his  connection  with  church  activities,  which  especially 
in  the  country  form  so  large  a  part  of  the  neighborhood  life,  are  im- 
portant factors.  The  distance  from  church,  the  facilities  for  getting 
there,  the  regularity  of  attendance  should  all  be  included  in  the 
agent's  inquiries. 

/;       Spending  Money. — ^A  minor  point,  but  one  worth  consideration,  is 
the  child's  allowance.    However  small  the  amount  may  be,  the  pos- 
session of  it  gives  him  useful  experience  and  a  certain  standing  among 
other  children. 
,     Education. — In  this  country  of  pubHc  schools  this  should  not  per- 

''  haps  need  the  attention  that  it  does.  But  the  variation  in  standards 
and  in  quality  of  teaching  throughout  the  widely  differing  schools  of 
city  and  country  makes  careful  observation  necessary.  Points  to  be 
considered  are  the  distance  from  school,  how  the  child  gets  there, 
whether  on  foot  or  by  school  'bus,  and  the  regularity  of  his  attend- 
ance. The  quality  of  work  done  in  the  school  should  be  watched. 
Occasionally  the  Association  has  suggested  to  the  family  transferring 
a  child  from  a  small  country  school  to  a  better  school  in  a  nearby 
town,  where  they  have  to  pay  a  tuition  fee. 

One  reason  why  the  agency  should  follow  so  closely  the  school  work 
of  its  charges  is  that  it  may  be  able  to  assist  promising  children  to 
further  schoohng,  either  by  persuading  the  parents  to  provide  it, 
which  is  decidedly  the  better  course,  or  by  itself  helping,  either  with 
a  money  allowance  or  by  putting  the  child  in  the  way  of  scholarships 
or  special  training  schools,  when  the  foster  parents  cannot  assist.  One 

[85  1 


of  the  illustrative  cases  which  follows  is  an  instance  of  the  help  given 
to  an  ambitious  girl  who  wished  to  continue  in  school  and  whose  foster 
mother  could  not  help  her.  The  Association  can  always  put  its 
knowledge  of  different  types  of  schools — ^mechanical  or  trade  schools, 
for  instance — at  the  disposal  of  the  family,  and  often  this  kind  of  ad- 
vice is  as  much  needed  as  financial  subsidies. 

It  is  sometimes  possible  for  the  society  to  improve  the  educational 
standard  of  the  whole  commimity  by  its  insistence  that  its  ward  get 
the  right  kind  of  schooling.  For  instance,  this  Association  was  super- 
vising two  boys  whose  foster  family  went  into  the  wood  to  a  lumber 
camp  every  winter.  There  was  no  school  within  reach.  The  other 
famihes  were  apparently  indifferent  to  the  lack  of  schools  for  their 
children.  The  Association  brought  the  matter  to  the  notice  of  the 
Department  of  Education,  and  a  school  was  created  for  all  the  lumber 
camp  children. 

School  Reports. — ^The  Association  has  used  a  method  of  school  re- 
ports for  keeping  track  of  the  work  of  the  supervised  children  which 
has  been  found  generally  successful.  A  letter  is  written  to  the  family 
some  time  before  school  opens,  explaining  that  the  Association  wishes 
to  keep  in  touch  with  the  child's  school  work,  and  asking  them,  if 
they  have  no  objection,  to  send  the  name  and  address  of  the  teacher. 
A  letter  enclosing  a  report  blank  is  then  sent  the  teacher,  saying  that 
the  Association  is  interested  in  the  child  in  question  and  would  like 
to  be  kept  informed  of  his  progress.  The  teacher  then  sends  reports 
directly  to  the  Association.  In  many  cases,  however,  the  community 
does  not  know  that  the  child  is  a  foster  child  or  where  he  comes  from; 
the  foster  parents  then  send  copies  of  the  reports  to  the  office.  This 
is  usually  true  of  famihes  who  took  very  young  children.  These  re- 
ports include,  in  addition  to  the  formal  statement  of  school  work, 
some  information  as  to  the  child's  looks,  his  conduct,  and  his  attitude 
toward  his  foster  parents.  This  method  is  valuable  not  only  for  this 
formal  statement,  but  for  the  opinion  which  it  furnishes,  from  the 
point  of  view  of  a  disinterested  outsider,  of  the  child's  place  in  the 
household  and  in  the  community. 

Relation  Between  Parents  and  Child. — ^All  these  facts  are  the  basis 

[86] 


on  which  the  visitor  will  build  up  her  estimate  of  the  home  and  of  the 
child's  care.  But,  as  in  the  case  of  the  investigation,  this  material, 
absolutely  essential  as  it  is,  is  only  half  of  what  a  good  report  should 
contain.  One  must  have  in  addition  information  about  the  less  tan- 
gible but  equally  important  factors  in  the  foster  child's  life:  his  place 
in  the  household;  his  happiness  or  unhappiness;  his  acceptance  by 
the  community  and  his  own  emotional  and  mental  development. 
First  among  these  considerations  is  his  relationship  to  his  foster  par- 
ents. 

The  question  of  how  far  a  child  has  the  capacity  for  satisfying  his 
parents'  hopes  of  him  is  one  that  should  be  settled,  if  one  may  say  so, 
before  it  arises.  In  other  words,  the  greatest  care  should  be  used  to 
choose  the  right  home  for  him  in  the  first  place.  This  involves  know- 
ing both  family  and  child  thoroughly.  One  must  think  in  t^rms  of 
years  in  placing  children,  trying  to  visualize  what  will  happen  when 
the  jolly  baby  of  three  or  four  becomes  the  strong  or  weak-willed  child 
of  nine  or  ten. 

The  strain  on  both  family  and  child,  but  especially  on  the  child,  of 
his  failure  to  fulfil  expectations,  is  one  of  the  most  disastrous  results 
of  a  misplacement.  The  attempts  at  mutual  adaptation  between  a 
family  with  ambitions  for  educating  their  child  and  a  child  dull  at 
school,  between  a  family  with  high  standards  of  refinement  and  a 
child  who  develops  a  coarse-grained  temperament,  between  a  quiet 
and  conservative  family  and  a  child  with  a  taste  for  excitement,  are 
full  of  pitfalls.  In  such  a  situation  the  only  thing  to  do  is  to  watch 
closely  enough  to  judge  whether  the  child  has  the  capacity  for  satis- 
fying his  parents  or  whether  they  have  the  flexibility  to  alter  their 
ideals.  If  it  seems  improbable  that  they  can  meet  on  common  ground, 
the  wisest  and  kindest  thing  is  to  separate  them.  But  only  rarely  will 
one  do  that  before  every  other  way  has  been  tried.  Often  the  first 
six  months  or  a  year  are  the  most  diflScult  period.  If  the  family  can 
hold  out  that  long,  the  child  will  often  round  his  difiicult  corner  and 
give  little  cause  for  anxiety  afterward. 

One  should  consider  also  how  far  the  foster  parents  are  capable  of 
meeting  the  child's  needs.    If  there  is  pronounced  incompatibility, 

[87] 


the  foster  parents  can  probably  not  go  far,  because  they  will  be  unable 
to  understand  the  child.  Here  the  agent  can  be  of  service  in  inter- 
preting the  child's  difficulties,  by  explaining  how  he  is  still  struggling 
against  the  sinister  influences  of  his  earlier  life  and  is  distrustful  and 
worried  and  in  consequence  disobedient  and  imresponsive.  This  pre- 
supposes a  thorough  knowledge  on  the  agent's  part  of  the  child's  his- 
tory. She  can  sometimes  illuminate  the  present  situation  by  examples 
of  other  children  who  have  had  the  same  faults  and  have  come  safely 
through. 

Difficult  Adjustments. — ^We  have  previously  discussed  the  diffi- 
culties which  may  arise  in  families  who  have  too  set  a  standard  of  con- 
duct and  who  expect  a  child  to  fit  himself  to  the  pattern  of  life  which 
they  have  made  for  themselves.  Such  difficulties  constitute  one  of  the 
gravest  problems  of  children's  work.  Many  foster  parents  fail  be- 
cause their  prejudices  and  settled  ways  of  thinking  are  too  inflexible 
to  admit  of  alteration.  They  are  incapable  of  believing  that  a  child 
who  steals  at  ten  may  prove  a  worthwhile  person  ten  years  later. 
They  never  stole  when  they  were  young  nor  did  any  of  their  family — 
or  if  they  did,  no  one  knew  it — and  therefore  a  child  who  steals  must 
be  to  them  always  an  alien  and  beyond  hope  of  reformation.  Equally 
difficult  are  the  parents  whose  hopes  have  been  set  on  seeing  their  son 
head  of  his  class  in  school.  He  may  prove  extremely  efficient  in  prac- 
tical ways,  an  attractive  personality,  but  because  he  can't  do  arith- 
metic and  write  compositions,  he  can  never  be  a  real  part  of  the 
family.  The  first  investigation  of  the  home  should  make  this  clear, 
so  that  we  will  know  what  we  must  guard  against. 

For  the  first  year  or  so  the  agent  will  need  to  watch  closely  to  judge 
whether  the  foster  parents  are  giving  the  child  the  sort  of  training  that 
his  character  demands.  It  is  true  that  a  woman  who  is  over-indulgent 
will  probably  always  be  so,  and  that  little  can  be  done  to  brace  her 
up,  but  suggestion  and  warning  by  the  agent  may  help  somewhat. 
Very  often  it  is  wise  to  advise  a  worried  foster  mother  to  let  up  a  little 
in  her  discipline;  to  let  the  child  alone  a  little  more,  and  to  overlook 
an  occasional  fault  if  it  be  not  too  flagrant. 

Interviews  with  Foster  Fathers. — At  this  point  it  may  be  worth  say- 

[88] 


ing  that  it  is  quite  as  important  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  foster  father 
as  with  the  foster  mother.  This  is  often  hard  to  do,  involving  perhaps 
a  separate  visit  to  his  place  of  work  or  an  evening  visit  at  the  house, 
but  it  pays.  For  one  thing,  he  may  prove  to  have  a  different  view  of 
the  situation  from  that  of  his  wife,  and  he  may  be  more  open  to  a  new 
conception  of  it.  Or  he  may  have  more  influence  with  the  child,  being 
a  less  familiar  part  of  the  domestic  machinery.  Even  if  he  is  strictly 
neutral  and  is  leaving  the  child's  training  to  his  wife,  it  is  worth  while 
to  see  him,  if  only  to  urge  him  to  take  a  hand  in  the  situation.  Any 
one  who  has  read  supervision  reports  has  doubtless  been  struck  by  the 
absence  of  any  statement  of  interviews  with  the  man  of  the  family. 
This  is  certainly  not  a  normal  state  of  affairs,  for  in  most  families  the 
father  has  a  considerable  part  in  the  training  of  the  children,  although 
the  bulk  of  it  is  naturally  done  by  the  mother.  The  influence  of  the 
foster  father  is  probably  quite  as  much  of  a  determinant  as  that  of  the 
mother,  and  it  is  the  business  of  the  agent  to  know  of  what  kind  it  is. 
Foster  mothers  will  often  start  a  discussion  of  the  child  while  he 
himself  is  in  the  room,  and  this  the  agent  will  certainly  wish  to 
check.  It  is  true  that  occasionally  the  agent  and  the  mother  will 
wish  to  talk  to  the  child  together  about  his  dijfficulties.  But  it 
should  be  a  general  rule  to  discuss  such  matters  out  of  the  child's  hear- 
ing. It  will  dull  his  susceptibility  to  discipline  to  have  his  faults 
dealt  with  in  that  way,  and  it  will  probably  make  him  resentful  and 
suspicious  of  the  agent,  so  that  she  will  have  trouble  later  in  getting 
him  to  talk  naturally  to  her  and  to  trust  her. 

\  Discipline. — The  kind  of  punishment  used  by  the  family  is  often 
highly  indicative.  Does  the  foster  mother  threaten  punishments 
which  she  is  unable  to  carry  out,  or  has  she  a  rational  system  which 
metes  out  an  even-handed  justice?  The  type  of  woman  who  is  always 
threatening  to  "take  you  back  to  the  office  if  you  aren't  a  good  boy" 
and  who  never  does  "take  you  back  to  the  office"  is  obviously  build- 
ing up  a  confused  standard  of  conduct  for  her  child.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  type  of  woman  who  never  overlooks  any  side-stepping  from 
the  path  of  righteousness  and  who  never  forgets  to  carry  out  a  threat 
of  punishment  is  creating  probably  a  growth  of  resentment  in  her 

[89  1 


child  which  will  have  its  outlet  sooner  or  later.  Both  mothers  need 
help,  and  if  it  is  offered  wisely  and  with  not  too  plain  a  criticism,  they 
will  probably  accept  it. 

The  policy  of  sending  a  child  to  the  office  to  be  discipUned  is  usually 
unjustifiable,  as  it  amounts  really  to  an  evasion  by  the  foster  parents 
and  certainly  diminishes  the  child's  respect  for  their  authority.  It 
has  the  added  bad  effect  of  confusing  the  child  as  to  who  is  in  author- 
ity, a  confusion  only  too  likely  to  exist  anyivay. 

Most  parents  would  probably  agree  that  generous  praise  for  his 
virtues  helps  a  child  more  than  punishment  for  his  faults. 

The  attitude  of  other  children,  particularly  in  school,  often  has  an 
excellent  effect  on  a  difficult  child,  and  here  again  the  teacher  can  help, 
by  keeping  a  special  watch  on  the  child  and  on  the  behavior  of  the 
others  toward  him.  Criticism  by  his  peers  is  usually  more  penetrating 
than  the  parental  criticism,  which  he,  no  doubt,  often  attributes  to  the 
"crankiness"  of  grown-ups.  Letting  a  troublesome  child  play  a  good 
deal  with  other  children,  preferably  older  and  bigger  than  he,  is  a 
useful  help  to  training.  It  is  almost  always  best  to  discourage  the 
policy  of  isolation  in  which  so  many  mothers  indulge. 

Child's  Attitude. — There  is  another  point  which  should  be  made  in 
connection  with  the  difficulties  that  families  and  children  have  in  ad- 
justing to  each  other,  and  that  is  the  state  of  mind  in  "adopted"  chil- 
dren, which  is  the  result  of  their  broken  and  disordered  life — the  feeling 
of  dependency.  They  feel  that  they  have  not  been  wanted,  that  they 
were  "given  away"  by  their  own  parents,  and  that  their  remaining 
in  their  foster  homes  is  dependent  on  certain  standards  which  they 
only  dimly  understand.  This  feeling  of  uncertainty  may  result  with 
one  tjrpe  of  child  in  an  aggressiveness  which  acts  as  a  cover  to  his 
real  fear  of  not  making  good;  in  another  type,  in  an  anxiety  to  do 
the  right  thing  and  to  please,  which  is  no  less  difficult  to  meet. 
That  strained  self-consciousness  which  one  sees  in  so  many  of  these 
children  is  no  doubt  due  largely  to  the  latter  cause.  Undoubtedly 
the  essential  cure  for  their  uneasiness  or  aggressiveness  is  to  reassure 
them  about  the  stability  of  their  present  home,  and  not  to  make  too 
many  demands  on  them  nor  to  pay  too  strict  attention  to  their  falls 

[901 


from  grace.  To  leave  these  children  as  free  as  possible  from  the  con- 
sciousness of  a  critical  eye  is  to  help  them  tremendously  to  a  more 
normal  attitude  toward  society. 

Informing  Child  That  he  is  Adopted. — One  problem  of  supervision 
which  is  much  discussed  just  now  is  the  advisability  of  telling  the 
children  that  they  are  not  the  family^s  own  children.  Obviously,  this 
is  a  problem  which  concerns  only  the  children  placed  as  infants. 
Many  foster  parents  object  so  seriously  to  telling  their  children  that 
it  is  impossible  to  insist  on  it.  On  the  other  hand,  apparently  an 
increasing  number  suggest  doing  so  when  they  make  their  first  appli- 
cation for  a  child.  The  pohcy  of  this  Association  is  increasingly  in 
favor  of  informing  the  children.  The  age  at  which  the  child  is  told  and 
the  manner  of  telling  will  have  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  way  in 
which  the  information  affects  him.  It  seems  hkely  that  many  more 
children  than  one  knows  about  are  already  somewhat  suspicious, 
thanks  often  to  the  talk  of  other  children,  and  that  they  are,  there- 
fore, somewhat  prepared.  The  sting  is  often  taken  out  of  the  dis- 
closure if  the  child  is  young  enough  to  take  things  for  granted  and  not 
to  be  surprised,  and  if  he  grows  up  with  the  knowledge  so  that  it  falls 
into  place  in  his  mind  with  other  facts  which  he  is  daily  learning.  This 
will  usually  eliminate  the  shock  with  which  older  children  sometimes 
learn  that  they  are  adopted.  If  the  child  is  kept  in  ignorance,  there 
are  innumerable  chances  of  his  learning  the  truth,  which  is  not  likely 
to  be  softened  by  the  realization  that  his  foster  parents  intended  that 
it  should  be  kept  from  him.  If  the  parents  can  choose  the  time  and 
the  circumstances  for  informing  the  child,  they  can  do  it  more  gently 
and  with  a  far  better  control  of  the  situation.  The  questions  which 
the  child  asks  will  have  to  be  answered  with  as  much  truth  as  he  can 
comprehend  and  can  stand.  There  seems  no  doubt  that  this  poUcy, 
far  from  alienating  the  child,  as  so  many  people  fear,  will  enhance  his 
confidence  in  his  parents.  It  will  certainly  make  for  that  honesty  and 
mutual  understanding  which  should  be  at  the  basis  of  this  most  per- 
sonal and  delicate  relationship. 

Adaptability  of  Family. — In  all  the  difficulties  which  may  arise  in 
the  course  of  settling  the  child  and  the  family  into  their  conomon 

[911 


life,  it  seems  clear  from  experience  that  the  agent  should  address 
herself  to  the  family  rather  than  to  the  child.  If  an  adjustment  must 
be  made,  the  family  should  do  more  than  half  the  work  of  adaptation. 
They  have  the  advantage  of  age — and  presumably  of  understanding — 
over  the  child,  they  have  all  the  incentives  to  make  the  experiment  a 
success,  and  they  are  not  hampered,  as  the  child  is,  by  an  unhappy  past 
life.  Presumably  they  are  in  better  control  of  their  emotions  and  im- 
pulses than  the  child.  The  child  is,  moreover,  in  the  disadvantageous 
position  of  the  newcomer  on  strange  ground.  He  is  usually  aware  of 
being  on  probation;  whereas  if  he  is  judging  the  family,  no  one  knows 
it,  as  a  rule.  He  is  uncertain  of  his  position,  afraid  of  what  may  hap- 
pen if  he  leaves  this  shelter.  All  these  factors  make  his  conduct 
problematic  and  uncontrolled.  The  family  have  all  the  advantages 
which  he  lacks.  It  is  surely  fair  to  ask  them  to  bear  a  double  burden 
of  responsibility  for  the  experiment.  This  point  of  view,  simple  as  it 
may  seem,  is  strangely  unfamiliar  to  some  foster  parents,  who  con- 
sciously— or  more  often  unconsciously — expect  the  child  to  make  all 
the  adaptations.  The  agent  in  such  cases  should  make  clear  to  them 
the  child's  side  and  enlist  their  patience  and  their  sympathy. 

Danger  in  Stressing  "Problems." — There  is  one  danger  of  which 
the  agent  should  be  aware,  and  that  is  the  danger  of  letting  the  special 
problem  overshadow  the  situation  as  a  whole.  One  has  read  many 
reports  in  which  the  child's  particular  difficulty — ^let  us  say,  ill  health 
— ^has  been  so  much  to  the  fore  in  the  agent's  mind  that  she  has  seen 
nothing  else;  the  child's  school  work,  his  personaUty  as  a  whole,  his 
status  in  the  family,  have  all  been  overlooked.  Not  only  does  this 
give  a  wrong  picture  of  the  child's  life  as  a  whole,  but  it  is  likely  to 
mean  that  the  agent's  own  picture  is  out  of  drawing  and  that  she  really 
has  forgotten  to  consider  the  other  ingredients  that  make  up  the  com- 
plex of  the  child's  life.  It  is  essential  to  see  the  special  problem  in  its 
place  as  a  part  of  the  child's  past  and  present  experience,  and  of  his 
personality  as  a  whole;  otherwise,  the  agent  may  find,  after  a  year's 
supervision,  that  she  has  overlooked  any  number  of  important  mat- 
ters in  the  life  of  the  child  and  of  the  household  because  of  her  dis- 
proportionate emphasis  upon  his  special  difficulty. 

[92] 


Need  for  Flexibility  in  Supervision. — Most  child-placing  agencies 
have  no  doubt  discovered  that  it  is  necessary  to  make  exceptions  to 
nearly  every  rule  which  they  may  make  regarding  the  treatment  of 
the  child  in  his  foster  home.  It  is  obvious  that  certain  regulations 
which  may  work  successfully  with  one  type  of  family  will  be  seriously 
hampering  or  impossible  to  carry  out  with  another.  For  instance,  one 
would  insist,  in  the  ordinary  household,  that  a  child  under  six  be  in 
bed  by  seven  or  half  past.  But  in  an  Italian  family,  where  the  family's 
own  children  seldom  get  to  bed  before  eleven,  this  cannot  be  insisted 
upon.  It  would  simply  be  ignored.  One  must  adjust  oneself  to  racial 
customs  or  to  local  ways  of  living.  It  is  undoubtedly  bad  for  children 
to  be  given  tea  and  coffee,  but  every  one  knows  that  it  is  impossible 
to  prevent  it  in  certain  kinds  of  homes.  It  is  a  wholesome  rule  that 
every  child  should  have  a  bed  to  himself,  but  to  people  on  farms  this 
seems  ridiculous,  because  it  is  not  the  local  custom,  and  the  agent 
must  be  content  with  finding  out  with  whom  the  child  does  sleep  and 
insisting  that  a  young  boy  should  not  share  a  room  with  a  hired  man 
of  unknown  or  doubtful  character.  Supervision  must  often  seem  to 
resolve  itself  into  a  series  of  compromises.  But  a  makeshift  may  be 
better  than  nothing  at  all,  and  it  is  usually  worth  while  to  adjust  one's 
demands  to  the  ability  of  the  family  to  carry  them  out.  This  is  not 
to  advocate  compromise  in  every  instance;  where  any  moral  danger 
threatens  the  child,  where  his  health  is  neglected  or  his  happiness  un- 
certain, compromise  is  not  to  be  considered.  But  in  matters  of  less 
vital  significance  it  is  necessary,  if  the  work  is  to  be  carried  on  with  any 
degree  of  human  understanding,  to  be  flexible. 

The  Family*s  Responsibility. — There  is  one  principle  of  supervision 
which  the  Association  has  made  a  point  of  maintaining,  and  that  is  one 
which  we  have  already  mentioned — ^giving  the  chief  responsibility  to 
the  family.  The  basic  reason  for  this,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Associa- 
tion, is  that  it  reinforces  the  tie  between  parents  and  child  to  have  all 
authority  and  all  plans  for  the  child  emanate  from  the  parents.  It 
parallels  more  closely  than  any  other  system  the  normal  household 
and  family  life.  The  child  is  thus  not  confused  by  a  double  authority, 
which  must  have  for  him  the  added  bad  effect  of  singling  him  out 

[93] 


from  other  children  who  have  no  *' Society"  interested  in  them.  As 
an  additional  reason,  there  is  the  attitude  of  the  family  to  be  con- 
sidered; their  sense  of  possession — a  perfectly  normal  feeling — ^is  cer- 
tainly increased  by  the  realization  that  the  real  responsibility  for 
the  child  rests  in  their  hands.  They  are  much  less  likely  to  fall  into 
an  attitude  of  passivity,  looking  to  the  Association  to  attend  to  any 
but  the  routine  matters  of  the  child's  life.  Feeling  that  the  planning 
and  the  action  must  be  theirs  for  anything  affecting  the  child,  they 
will  take  the  initiative.  Undoubtedly,  if  the  life  of  the  placed  child  is 
to  be  as  nearly  as  possible  the  life  of  the  child  living  with  his  own 
parents,  all  these  principles  are  essential.  The  agency  will  have  to 
lend  a  hand  frequently;  the  family  may  need  advice  about  doctors, 
about  schools,  about  various  details  of  the  child's  upbringing.  It  will 
always  be  a  consulting  office  and  much  more.  But  when  the  agency 
does  arrange  special  school  plans  for  the  child  or  suggest  a  change  in 
the  training,  it  does  so  through  the  parents,  who  are  almost  always  the 
intermediary  between  the  child  and  the  agency.  Usually  it  will  give 
the  family  the  names  of  the  doctors  or  hospitals  or  schools  which  it 
recommends,  leaving  them  to  make  all  the  plans,  rather  than  itself 
making  the  inquiries  and  the  final  arrangements.  This  may  be  a  more 
difficult  thing  to  do  than  taking  over  the  arrangements  bodily,  and  it 
will  often  take  far  more  time  and  energy,  but  it  pays  in  the  end  if,  as 
a  result,  the  family  develop  a  stronger  sense  of  responsibility  and 
greater  resourcefulness.  The  next  time  that  a  crisis  arises  the  family 
will  be  better  prepared  to  handle  it.  And  the  child  will  be  spared  the 
reminder  of  his  belonging  to  a  "Society"  instead  of  to  a  father  and 
mother  as  the  other  children  do. 

Unobtrusive  Supervision. — Just  as  the  agency  will  do  its  work  for 
the  child  as  unobtrusively  as  possible,  so  the  visitor  will  do  hers. 
First  of  all,  she  should  learn  not  to  talk  about  her  work  to  the  casual 
interested  person,  except,  of  course,  of  its  general  policy.  Any  one 
who  has  done  field  work  in  the  coimtry  districts  is  familiar  with  the 
high  light  of  curiosity  in  which  the  field  worker  moves.  The  agent 
will  have  to  learn  how  to  combine  civility  with  reticence.  When  she 
is  calling  at  the  school  to  see  the  child,  she  must  do  it,  if  possible,  in 

[94] 


such  a  way  as  to  escape  the  curiosity  and  comment  of  the  other  chil- 
dren. In  talking  to  the  references  she  is,  of  course,  freer,  since  they 
were  in  the  secret  to  begin  with,  but  she  will  certainly  avoid  giving 
them  any  but  the  most  general  and  the  least  identifying  facts  about 
the  child's  circumstances  and  history.  In  general  she  is  guided  by  the 
principle  of  saying  and  doing  as  little  as  possible  to  mark  the  child  out 
from  other  children.  She  must  do  her  utmost  to  accelerate  the  process 
by  which  the  child  is  absorbed  into  the  life  of  the  household  and  of  the 
•community.  She  will  certainly  not  emphasize  the  authority  of  the 
Association  over  the  child  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary — as  may 
happen. 

Perhaps  the  first  consideration  of  the  visiting  agent  should  be  to 
put  the  foster  family  at  their  ease  with  her.  An  agent  who  is  already 
known  will  naturally  be  received  with  less  embarrassment  than  a 
stranger.  During  the  first  visit  made  after  the  child  is  placed  there  is 
particularly  likely  to  be  awkwardness.  General  talk,  friendly  inquiry 
about  family  concerns,  even  discussion  of  the  weather,  make  an  easier 
entry  into  the  heart  of  the  visit  than  too  abrupt  questioning. 

Time  of  Visit. — In  Monograph  Number  1  the  choice  of  the  time  of 
the  visit  has  been  fully  discussed;  the  same  considerations  would  apply 
to  some  extent  to  visits  of  supervision.  In  some  cases  the  visitor 
will  wish  to  call  when  the  child  will  be  home  from  school;  in  other 
cases  she  will  prefer  to  have  her  talk  alone  with  the  foster  mother  and 
to  see  the  child  alone  at  school  later.  But  in  general  the  visitor  has 
to  make  her  calls  how  and  when  she  can,  especially  on  long  trips  into 
the  country,  where  the  circumstances  of  her  visit  are  conditioned  by 
infrequent  trains  and  impatient  drivers  and  bad  roads.  She  will  nat- 
urally prefer  not  to  call  when  the  family  wash  is  at  its  thickest,  but 
will  sometimes  wish  to  be  there  at  meal-time  to  see  what  kind  of  food 
the  child  is  getting.  It  is  usually  bad  policy  for  a  visitor  accustomed 
to  city  hours  to  forget  that  country  people  go  to  bed  early;  visits  are 
not  made  under  the  happiest  conditions  when  the  household  is  starting 
to  go  to  bed.  This  is  merely  to  say,  in  other  words,  that  the  visitor 
must  remember  to  adapt  herself  as  far  as  possible  to  local  customs, 
not  only  in  such  details,  but  in  her  criticism  of  the  family,  remember- 

[95] 


ing  that  the  real  test  of  the  home  is  how  it  measures  up  not  to  her 
standard,  but  to  the  standard  of  the  community. 

Attitude  of  Community  Towards  Child. — ^The  relation  of  the  child 
to  the  community  constitutes  always  a  crucial  point  in  supervision. 
It  seems  altogether  probable  that  the  future  of  the  child-placing  sys- 
tem may  be  determined  by  its  abiUty  to  meet  this  test:  does  the 
placed  child  become  an  imquestioned — or  rather  perhaps  an  accepted 
— member  of  the  family  and  of  the  community?  If  he  does  not,  if  a 
real  difference  is  made  by  the  community  between  children  in  their 
own  homes  and  children  in  foster  homes,  one  may  say  that  the  system 
is  inadequate.  It  is  a  paramount  necessity  of  good  child-placing  that 
the  child  be  absorbed  into  the  ordinary  life  of  the  community  without 
too  much  comment.  Never  should  the  child  be  known  as  **the  boy 
that  comes  from  the  charitable  society."  This  is  not  to  say  that  all 
children  can  be  accepted  with  equal  ease.  Older  children  whose 
memories  are  more  developed  and  who  talk  at  school  about  their  own 
parents  are  bound  to  be  the  subject  of  comment.  Any  child,  when  he 
first  comes  into  a  household,  is  sure  to  cause  speculation.  But  under 
ordinary  circumstances  this  talk  soon  dies  out  and  people  cease  to 
think  of  the  child  as  an  alien.  The  tendency  to  blame  any  divergence 
from  accepted  canons  of  conduct  on  the  fact  that  the  child  is 
^' adopted '*  is  a  human  trait  that  one  can  hardly  hope  to  check.  But 
education  and  familiarity  with  the  idea  of  placing  out  will  do  much  to 
make  the  child  the  object  of  friendly  rather  than  hostile  comment, 
and  one  may  reasonably  hope  that  friendly  comment  will  in  the 
course  of  time  become  no  conmient  at  all.  Already  there  seems  to  be 
a  noticeable  tendency  to  watch  the  foster  child  with  an  approving  eye. 

Teacher's  Assistance. — The  supervising  agent  can  do  certain  things 
to  forward  this  acceptance  of  the  child  by  the  family  and  community. 
She  can,  for  instance,  take  the  teacher  somewhat  into  her  confidence 
and  get  her  help.  Most  children's  workers  are  doubtless  familiar  with 
the  fact  that  teachers  sometimes  make  an  invidious  difference  between 
their  treatment  of  foster  children  and  other  children.  In  the  experi- 
ence of  the  Association  such  a  state  of  things  rarely  exists.  The  teach- 
ers may  be  reluctant  to  increase  their  work  by  making  up  special  re- 

[96] 


ports,  or  they  may  suspect  a  too  pressing  inquiry  into  their  methods, 
but  the  antagonistic  attitude  is  fortunately  unconmion.  In  fact,  the 
teachers  by  and  large  are  generally  of  real  help  when  they  understand 
the  situation,  and  often  take  a  special  interest  in  helping  the  foster 
child.  An  agent  may  often,  without  violating  the  family's  desire  for 
secrecy,  explain  to  the  teacher  that  the  child  has  had  a  hard  life,  has 
been  to  school  irregularly,  has  had  little  training  of  any  kind,  and  is  in 
the  midst  of  adjusting  himself  to  new  conditions.  The  attitude  of 
other  children  in  the  school  is  also  of  importance.  Every  one  knows 
the  cruelty  of  which  children  are  capable  toward  one  another;  this  is 
particularly  true  of  this  situation.  The  foster  child  is  usually  behind 
his  grade,  bigger  and  older  than  the  other  children  in  his  class;  he  is 
the  newcomer,  and  because  of  neglect,  uncertain  of  himself  and  often 
imattractive.  Here  the  teacher  can  throw  the  weight  of  her  approval 
into  the  scales  and  determine  whether  the  balance  means  happiness 
or  unhappiness  to  the  foster  child.  She  can,  without  doing  it  so 
obviously  as  to  make  matters  worse,  protect  the  child  until  his  place 
is  established.  She  may  often  give  him  special  attention  to  bring  him 
up  to  grade. 

If  the  agent  has  a  chance  of  meeting  other  members  of  the  family, 
she  can  take  much  the  same  line  with  them.  She  can  show  the  foster 
parents  how  the  child's  earlier  Hfe  is  still  haunting  him.  Only  the 
workers  themselves  can  have  any  vivid  idea  of  the  misery  and  cruelty 
in  the  midst  of  which  so  many  of  these  children  have  lived.  It  is  sel- 
dom wise  to  stress  too  heavily  the  concrete  facts  of  this  life,  as  it  is 
sometimes  hard  for  foster  parents  not  to  be  repelled  by  them  to  the 
extent  of  carrying  over  some  of  their  feeling  to  their  attitude  toward 
the  child.  But  this  experience  can  be  interpreted  in  such  a  way  as  to 
clarify  their  understanding  of  what  the  child  has  to  struggle  against. 

Visiting  References. — The  original  references,  who  have  naturally 
more  interest  than  the  other  friends  of  the  family  in  the  success  of  the 
experiment,  will  sometimes  be  of  service.  They  can  often  give  the 
foster  mother  who  has  had  little  experience  with  children  encourage- 
ment and  advice.  Foster  mothers  often  say,  "  I  talked  to  Mrs.  Smith 
about  Billy's  lying.  She  says  her  boy  used  to  He  too,  but  she  trained 
7  [97  1 


him  out  of  it."  The  agent  can  sometimes  engage  the  sympathy  of  one 
of  these  references,  talking  to  her  much  as  she  did  to  the  teacher,  and 
getting  her  to  use  her  friendly  relations  with  the  foster  parents  to 
offer  an  occasional  word  of  advice.  A  by-product  of  this  interest  of 
the  references  is  the  sympathy  which  it  creates  for  the  child  in  the 
community. 

The  question  of  seeing  references  in  connection  with  visiting  the 
child  is,  however,  a  moot  point.  It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  do  this 
without  arousing  the  resentment  of  the  family,  who  are  almost  cer- 
tain to  know  of  it.  When  the  family  have  moved  into  a  new  neighbor- 
hood, where  no  one  knows  that  the  child  is  not  their  own,  it  is  cer- 
tainly unfair,  as  a  rule,  to  risk  an  inquiry.  There  are,  however,  a  few 
references  whom  the  family  are  willing  to  have  the  agent  consult;  the 
teacher,  perhaps  the  clergyman.  If  a  home  is  at  all  questionable,  an 
agent  will  certainly  need  to  confirm  her  own  observation  by  consulting 
a  reference,  either  an  original  or  an  independent  reference. 

If  the  family  or  the  child  is  dissatisfied,  or  if  there  is  a  doubt  in  the 
visitor's  mind  as  to  what  exactly  is  the  state  of  things,  she  should  by 
all  means  clear  up  her  doubts  by  consulting  references.  Often  they 
know  facts  not  easily  a^ccessible  to  the  visitor  which  they  are  willing 
to  tell  and  which  may  be  exceedingly  valuable. 

The  teacher  as  an  independent  reference  can  often  give  valuable  in- 
formation; whether  the  child  gets  to  school  on  time,  how  he  is  dressed, 
whether  he  is  tired  or  fresh  in  the  morning,  whether  he  seems  happy, 
and  what  the  attitude  of  his  parents  is  toward  him. 

The  agent  can  often  help  the  older  child  to  find  his  place  by  talking 
with  him  about  things  which  may  jeopardize  his  standing  in  the  com- 
munity. For  instance,  it  is  often  wise  to  warn  a  young  girl  not  to 
talk  broadcast  about  the  wretchedness  of  her  own  home,  but  to  dis- 
cuss it  only  with  her  foster  family  or  with  the  agent  herself.  It  is,  of 
course,  essential  that  she  should  feel  free  to  talk  it  over  with  some  one 
who  can  interpret  it  for  her  and  who  can  help  her  in  her  process  of 
emergence  from  it.  But  if  she  discusses  it  at  school,  it  is  sure  to  result 
in  a  degree  of  social  ostracism — and  nothing  could  be  worse  for  the 
adolescent  girl  or  boy  in  this  situation.    Of  course,  nothing  helps  to 

[98] 


erase  these  early  memories  so  much  as  the  sense  of  being  well  settled 
in  a  congenial  foster  home. 

Relation  Between  Agent  and  Family. — Good  miderstanding  be- 
tween the  agent  and  the  families  whom  she  visits  is  obviously  of  first 
importance.  That  they  should  like  and  respect  each  other  is  an  im- 
portant part  of  their  relationship,  and  one  for  which  the  agent  will 
work  constantly.  A  sense  of  mutual  confidence  and  interest  will  have 
its  beneficial  influence  on  the  family  situation. 

There  are,  however,  a  few  foster  families  with  whom  a  friendly  atti- 
tude on  the  part  of  the  visitor  is  hard  to  maintain ;  f amihes  who  are 
suspicious,  resentful  of  the  agent's  authority  over  their  child,  who  are 
antagonized  by  what  they  consider  the  society's  interference  in  their 
domestic  affairs,  or  famihes  who  are  bent  on  carrying  out  a  policy  of 
training  which  the  agent  cannot  but  consider  harmful  for  the  child. 

There  are  various  ways  of  dealing  with  this  situation;  one  is  to 
find  out  in  the  course  of  your  original  investigation  whether  the  family 
are  Hkely  to  take  that  tone.  For  instance,  the  agent  should  discuss  at 
that  time  the  regular  supervision  maintained,  the  joint  control  exer- 
cised by  family  and  agency,  and  she  should  find  out  from  references 
whether  the  family  have  the  reputation  of  being  hard  to  deal  with. 
It  should,  however,  be  remembered  that  this  antagonism  may  be  the 
reverse  side  of  a  quality  of  genuine  value,  their  championship  of  the 
child.  While  such  an  attitude  carried  to  an  extreme  is  dangerous,  the 
basis  of  it  is  sound.  The  protection  insured  by  it  for  the  child  is  not 
to  be  Hghtly  ignored  or  disapproved.  By  tact  and  patience,  by  good 
humor  and  self-restraint,  an  agent  can  do  much  to  win  the  family's 
friendliness.  She  can  usually  convince  them  finally  that  she  comes  not 
to  find  fault,  but  to  help.  By  letting  them  talk  themselves  out  on 
their  grievances  she  can  make  them  feel  that  their  complaints  are  not 
being  slighted.  Much  depends  on  her  attitude.  If  it  is  one  of  dis- 
approval, she  will  plainly  never  make  headway.  But  if  she  can  be 
open-minded  and  patient  and  slow  to  take  offense,  she  can  go  far 
toward  building  up  friendliness  between  the  family  and  the  organiza- 
tion. There  are  ways  and  ways  of  offering  criticism.  If  it  is  done  with 
open  disapproval,  it  will  certainly  be  resented.     But  if  it  is  done 

[99] 


casually,  it  is  likely  to  be  accepted.  Instead  of  saying,  for  instance, 
"It  is  wrong  to  feed  a  young  child  on  pie — it  will  make  him  sick,"  she 
may  say,  "Did  you  ever  try  him  with  cereals  or  well-cooked  vegeta- 
bles? I  know  a  good  many  famiUes  who  do  that  and  the  children 
seem  to  gain  on  them." 

Relation  Between  Agent  and  Child. — ^No  less  important  than  the 
family's  feeUng  toward  the  society  is  the  child's  feeling.  It  is  essen- 
tial, whenever  possible,  to  talk  with  him  alone.  This  may  be  only  a 
ten-minute  talk  at  the  home  under  awkward  conditions,  or  it  may  be 
a  long  walk  home  from  school  with  him.  In  either  case  it  should  be 
made  to  count  for  something.  It  is  the  only  chance  of  contact  that 
the  child  has  with  the  organization,  which  he  sometimes  thinks  of  as 
a  remote  and  formidable  entity  which  interferes  with  him  and  may 
be  used  as  a  "big  stick"  against  him — "If  you  aren't  good  I'll  write 
to  the  office  about  you."  To  erase  this  impression  and  to  give  him 
instead  a  sense  of  confidence  and  friendliness  is  an  important  part  of 
the  visitor's  duty. 

The  system  of  having  one  agent  in  charge  of  a  group  of  children 
whom  she  visits  regularly  gets  the  best  results  because,  after  a  few 
visits,  the  children  lose  their  shyness  and  come  to  feel  that  the  agent 
is  really  interested  in  them.^  This  continuity  is  particularly  valuable 
with  the  children  who  are  unsettled,  who  have  not  yet  recovered  from 
the  shock  of  leaving  their  own  homes,  nor  settled  into  their  foster  homes. 
An  agent  who  can  win  the  friendliness  and  trust  of  such  a  child  can 
help  him  tremendously  to  a  sense  of  security  and  continuity.  This 
achievement  is  well  worth  a  sacrifice  of  convenience  and  economy.  At 
the  same  time  we  must  admit  that  in  the  past  we  have  sometimes 
found  continuity  of  supervision  diflSicult  to  maintain.  For  instance, 
when  a  child  is  transferred  from  one  locaUty  to  another  perhaps  hun- 
dreds of  miles  away,  the  agent  who  has  been  looking  after  the  child 
cannot  make  the  journey  out  of  her  district  to  see  him.  The  time  and 
expense  involved  in  covering  a  large  area  to  visit  perhaps  only  two  or 


^  It  is  generally  agreed  that  the  older  boys  should  be  supervised  by  a  man  when- 
ever possible. 

[100] 


three  children  make  the  arrangement  prohibitive.  Moreover,  the 
fact  that  there  is  bound  to  be  a  change  of  visitors,  through  promotion 
or  transfer  to  other  organizations,  increases  the  impracticability  of  the 
arrangement.  Within  practical  limits,  however,  the  system  by  which 
one  agent  establishes  and  maintains  friendly  relations  with  her  group 
of  children  should  be  used  to  its  utmost  capacity.  We  should  unques- 
tionably make  every  legitimate  sacrifice  to  achieve  it. 

There  are  two  great  barriers  to  the  feehng  of  friendliness  between 
the  child  and  the  society.  One  is  the  resentment  of  most  older  chil- 
dren at  having  been  removed  from  their  own  parents.  This  resent- 
ment is  not  mitigated  by  the  child's  realization  that  the  breakup  of 
his  home  was  inevitable.  As  has  been  said  before,  no  child  is  removed 
from  his  own  home  except  as  a  last  resort.  To  pass  this  barrier  of 
suspicion  and  resentment  takes  time  and  tact.  The  agent  will  have 
to  explain  somewhat  why  the  child  could  not  remain  in  his  own  home 
and  will  have  to  appeal  to  his  desire  to  make  good,  urging  him  to 
^'try  it  for  a  while."  She  should  never  say  too  absolutely,  **You  can 
never  go  back  to  your  own  home."  The  second  barrier  to  friendliness 
is  the  antagonism  so  often  found  in  older  children  to  the  idea  of  being 
under  the  authority  of  a  "charitable  society" — a  natural  antagonism. 
Here  again  the  agent's  handling  of  the  situation  will  determine  often 
the  child's  future  attitude. 

Scolding  the  child,  even  when  the  parents  request  it,  is  usually  a 
mistake.  The  agent  should  talk  over  the  child's  difficulties  with  him, 
but  should  do  it  to  find  out  why  he  is  naughty  and  not  merely  to 
blame  him  for  being  naughty.  He  should  be  encouraged  to  present 
his  side  of  the  case,  though  this  is  usually  difficult  for  him  to  do  be- 
cause he  is  too  young  to  analyze  it.  But  there  are  so  many  possible 
reasons  why  a  child  with  his  background  is  naughty  that  one  should 
give  him  every  incentive  to  talk  if  one  is  to  understand  his  problems. 
A  frontal  attack  on  his  conduct — which  he  usually  does  not  under- 
stand himself — will  only  make  him  sullen  and  confused.  Many  con- 
cessions in  discipline  may  have  to  be  made  to  build  up  in  the  child  a 
willingness  to  talk  and  a  sense  of  confidence  in  the  agent,  but  they 
are  well  worth  making. 

[101] 


The  visitoi'  should  avoid  one  pitfall  when  she  is  talking  alone  with 
the  children.  That  is  to  avoid  saying  things  that  can  be  repeated  in  a 
garbled  form  later  to  the  foster  parents.  Many  misunderstandings 
between  family  and  society  have  been  caused  by  the  visitor's  saying 
to  the  child,  "If  you  aren't  happy  here  let  us  know  and  we  will  see 
what  we  can  do."  The  version  which  reaches  the  family  is  usually, 
''The  lady  said  I  was  to  write  her  and  she'd  come  and  take  me  away 
if  I  didn't  like  it  here,"  a  version  which  naturally  irritates  them  and 
causes  bad  feeling. 

Provision  for  Child's  Future. — One  aspect  of  the  foster  home  sys- 
tem which  is  receiving  a  good  deal  of  attention  now  is  the  question  of 
what  provision  the  foster  parents  are  making  for  the  child's  future. 
This  means,  of  course,  not  only  financial  provision,  but  the  means  of 
self-support.  The  work  of  supervision  is  left  at  loose  ends  if  the  child 
is  adopted  legally  or  passes  from  the  care  of  the  society  without 
knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  society  as  to  this  provision.  What  the 
child  may  expect  from  his  parents  is  a  question  that  should  be  dis- 
cussed to  some  extent  at  the  time  that  the  child  is  legally  adopted. 
Many  foster  parents  volunteer  this  information,  and  in  general  par- 
ents are  glad  to  talk  over  with  the  visitor  their  plans  for  the  child's 
future,  whether  it  be  what  share  he  will  have  of  their  property  or 
what  trade  he  will  learn  for  self-support.  The  society  will  certainly 
wish  to  round  out  its  period  of  supervision  by  assuring  itself  that  the 
parents  have  thought  this  out  and  can  be  counted  on  to  do  the  fair 
and  wise  thing  by  the  child. 

The  Adoption  Visit. — The  visit  made  when  the  family  ask  permis- 
sion to  adopt  the  child  legally  should  be  made  with  the  utmost  thor- 
oughness. No  agency  will  wish  to  relinquish  its  guardianship  of  the 
child  without  having  assured  itself  that  adoption  will  safeguard  the 
child  and  insure  him  the  best  possible  future.  A  year's  trial  is  prob- 
ably the  minimmn  time  in  which  the  agency  can  satisfy  itself  that  the 
child  should  stay  permanently  in  his  foster  home.  With  numerous 
homes  it  is  wiser  to  wait  an  additional  year  or  even  several  years. 
There  will  always  be  a  certain  proportion  of  famihes  who  ought  never 
to  be  allowed  to  adopt  their  children.    Such  homes  should  probably 

f  102  1 


not  have  been  used  in  the  first  place,  although  the  difficulty  may  have 
arisen  since,  perhaps  through  financial  reverses,  perhaps  through  the 
unpromising  development  of  the  child,  which  makes  it  essential  that 
the  agency  stand  by  to  be  of  service,  or  through  some  unforeseen  trou- 
ble with  the  foster  parents.  It  is  just  these  doubtful  families  which 
are  most  insistent  on  adoption,  partly  to  get  rid  of  supervision  and 
partly  because  they  realize  that  their  hold  on  the  children  may  be 
jeopardized  by  the  refusal  of  adoption. 

In  making  the  adoption  visit  the  agent  will  to  some  extent  rein- 
vestigate the  home.  At  first  sight  this  may  seem  superfluous,  if  the 
agent  has  been  observant  and  has  visited  the  home  often  enough.  But 
on  nearer  view  we  see  new  factors,  which  differentiate  the  usual  in- 
vestigation from  the  adoption  visit.  Most  significant  is  the  fact  that 
with  this  visit,  if  adoption  is  approved,  will  terminate  the  agency's 
care  of  the  child.  Are  we  sure  that  we  have  all  the  necessary  guaran- 
tees for  the  child's  future? 

N  Changes  in  Household. — During  the  year  or  more  which  has  elapsed 
since  the  child  was  placed  important  changes  may  have  taken  place 
in  the  household.  The  financial  situation  may  have  altered — ^in  any 
case,  the  added  expense  of  the  child's  care  must  be  considered;  the 
membership  of  the  household  may  have  changed,  and  there  is  the 
essential  question — ^how  has  the  entrance  of  the  child  into  the  family 
affected  the  household  life?  All  these  factors  must  be  considered 
from  an  angle  different  from  that  of  the  original  investigation. 

Facts  Hke  these  can  be  ascertained  to  a  large  extent  by  the  agent's 
observation,  but  should  be  corroborated  by  references.  The  agent 
should  see  one  or  two  of  the  original  references,  preferably  those  who 
have  kept  in  closest  touch  with  the  family,  and,  if  there  is  no  objec- 
tion on  the  score  of  secrecy,  an  independent  reference  occasionally.  We 
are  no  longer  considering,  when  we  make  an  adoption  visit,  a  hypo- 
thetical case — ^how  will  the  placement  of  a  child  in  this  home  work 
out? — ^but  an  actual  experience,  to  be  reviewed  without  prejudice  and 
with  all  the  facts  in  hand.  The  agent  should  ask  herself ;  "Will  the 
child  be  better  off  wholly  in  the  care  of  his  foster  parents  or  will  he 
perhaps  need  also  the  help  that  the  agency  can  give?    Will  he  gain 

[103] 


more  by  being  accepted  without  question  as  the  child  of  his  foster 
parents  than  he  would  gain  from  the  assistance  which  the  agency- 
could  give  if  it  were  still  supervising  him?^'  Most  workers  would 
probably  agree  that,  granted  a  reasonably  good  and  safe  home,  the 
child  would  gain  much  more  by  being  closely  identified  with  his  foster 
parents.  His  place  in  the  community  is  more  clearly  defined;  if  he  is 
old  enough  to  reaUze  his  situation,  he  feels  himself  more  seciu-e  and 
he  is  drawn  more  deeply  into  the  current  of  neighborhood  life. 

Adoption  of  Children  of  Bad  History. — This  constitutes  a  problem 
by  itself.  In  many  cases  a  special  agreement  has  been  signed  by  the 
family,  but  often  they  may  press  the  adoption  in  spite  of  that,  possi- 
bly because,  after  having  the  child  for  some  time,  the  thought  of  giving 
him  up  becomes  a  more  formidable  possibility  than  when  they  were 
merely  considering  taking  him;  possibly  because  his  development 
seems  to  be  so  entirely  normal  that  they  are  encouraged  to  feel  that 
there  is  less  risk  than  they  anticipated.  It  may  seem  wisest  to  permit 
adoption  if  the  family  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  facts  of  the 
child's  history  and  intelligent  enough  to  be  trusted  to  do  the  right 
thing  in  case  the  child  should,  after  all,  develop  abnormally.  Very 
often  little  is  gained  by  holding  out  against  a  strong  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  family;  their  friendliness  and  frankness  may  be  jeopardized  by 
it.  Often  too  the  child  himself  begs  to  be  adopted,  realizing  how  it 
will  strengthen  his  position  in  the  family  which  he  has  come  to  regard 
as  his  own.  In  cases,  however,  where  the  family  is  ignorant  and  lack- 
ing in  resources  to  deal  with  possible  difficulties,  it  will  probably  seem 
dangerous  for  the  agency  to  relinquish  its  supervision  and  its  claim  on 
the  child. 

The  agency  may  often  feel  it  unwise  to  permit  adoption  of  such 
children  until  they  are  old  enough  to  show  definite  normality  or 
abnormality.  In  such  cases  it  may  ask  the  family,  when  they  first 
take  the  child,  to  sign  a  special  agreement  stating  that  they  agree  to 
postpone  adoption  until  that  time,  and  promising,  in  case  the  child 
develops  characteristics  which  make  him  dangerous  to  the  community, 
to  return  him  to  the  care  of  the  Association.  If  the  family  seem  to 
understand  the  situation  and  to  be  willing  to  deal  frankly  with  the 

[104] 


agency  and  still  wish  to  take  the  child  after  they  know  all  the  facts, 
it  seems  fair  to  let  them  do  so.  It  often  means  giving  the  child  his  only 
chance  for  normal  family  life  outside  the  institution.  Close  super- 
vision should,  of  course,  be  maintained  in  such  cases. 

Advisability  of  Adoption. — In  general  this  agency  considers  adop- 
tion advisable,  provided,  of  course,  that  there  has  been  plenty  of  time 
for  observation  of  the  placement  and  that  this  observation  has  been 
adequate.  The  suggestion  of  adoption  is  rarely  made  by  the  agency, 
although  it  is  discussed  during  the  first  investigation.  That  it  often 
matters  intensely  to  the  child  is  beyond  a  doubt,  and  this  certainly 
should  have  its  effect  on  our  decision.  There  are  numerous  cases  of 
children  who  have  begged  to  be  adopted,  so  that  at  last  they  might 
feel  secure.  Its  reassuring  effect  upon  the  child  is  one  of  the  strongest 
arguments  in  its  favor. 

Supervision  Records 
A  Simple  Supervision  Case. 

Placement. — September  20,  '17.     In  the  home   of    Mr.  and    Mrs.  Henry 

Gould,  Street,  .     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  went  to-day  to  the  boarding 

home  of  Mrs.  Smith  to  see  the  baby.  They  were  very  much  attracted  to  him, 
and  Mr.  Gould  telephoned  to  ask  if  permission  would  be  given  to  ake  the  baby 
to  their  home  to-day.  It  was  explained  that  we  would  prefer  to  have  them  wait 
till  the  child  was  in  better  physical  condition,  but  as  they  were  very  eager  to  take 
the  baby,  fully  understanding  that  he  was  not  quite  up  to  the  mark  physically, 
it  was  agreed  that  they  might  take  him. 

Letter. — September  25,  '17.  Mr.  Gould  sends  a  report  of  his  doctor's  ex- 
amination of  the  baby  and  says  that  they  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
boy  will  progress  rapidly  with  careful  attention. 

Letter. — October  22, '17.  Letter  from  Mrs.  Gould:  'Just  a  word  letting  you 
know  that  my  baby  is  getting  along  lovely.  He  is  the  grandest  baby  and  we  love 
him  very  dearly.  .  .  .  He  is  certainly  bringing  lots  of  happiness  into  our 
home.  .  .  .  My  doctor  says  he  is  a  perfect  baby.  ...  I  would  love  to 
have  the  nurse  see  him  now  that  went  to  see  him  the  day  before  we  took  him." 

Visit. — December  20,  '17.  The  Gould  s  house  is  very  pleasantly  situated 
and  nicely  furnished  and  flooded  with  sunshine.  The  baby  has  a  room  to  him- 
self which  has  every  comfort,  and  he  takes  his  nap  on  a  large  sun  piazza.  The 
Goulds  are  nice-looking  young  people.  They  are  both  apparently  in  good  health,  and 
are  intelligent,  pleasant,  home-loving  people.  Mrs.  Gould  is  a  calm,  even-tempered 
woman,  affectionate,  and  fond  of  children,  and  she  and  her  husband  seem  very 
congenial  and  to  be  getting  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  from  the  baby,  whom  they  call 
Edward.    He  is  a  rather  pretty,  fair-skinned  child.     He  seems  bright  and  has  a 

[105] 


good  disposition.  He  was  very  daintily  dressed  and  showed  the  best  of  care. 
One  would  think  he  was  the  Goulds'  own  baby  from  the  preparations  that  they 
made  for  him  and  the  gifts  he  received  from  relatives.  He  has  a  beautiful  baby 
basket,  filled  out  with  every  conceivable  thing,  and  a  great  many  pretty  hand- 
made dresses.    He  has  been  under  the  care  of  Dr.  King,  the  child  specialist  of 

,  whom  agent  knows.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  are  looking  forward  to  adopting 

the  baby  as  soon  as  permission  can  be  given.  Agent  talked  with  Dr.  King,  who 
has  had  the  care  of  the  baby,  and  he  says  he  thinks  Edward  is  a  fine  bright  child 
and  that  the  Goulds  are  just  the  right  people  to  bring  up  a  family  of  children. 

Visit. — ^April  16,  '18.  Mrs.  Gould  and  the  baby  were  seen.  Edward,  as  the 
baby  is  called,  is  developing  splendidly.  He  is  up  to  the  standard,  according  to 
Dr.  Holt.  Mrs.  Gould  feels  very  much  pleased,  because  he  was  such  a  tiny  thin 
baby  when  they  took  him.  He  has  cut  two  teeth  and  is  strong  and  active;  is  a 
fine-looking  child.  Mrs.  Gould  has  trained  him  very  carefully  and  so  he  is  not 
much  trouble.  The  baby  is  already  beginning  to  talk.  He  says  several  words 
which  he  seems  to  know  the  meaning  of. 

Note. — September  14, '  18.  Mr.  Gould  telephoned  today  to  say  that  he  and  his 
wife  are  very  eager  to  adopt  the  baby  legally. 

Adoption  Visit. — October  13,  '18.  By  another  agent.  Agent  was  invited  in 
to  sit  in  the  nursery.  It  was  furnished  with  a  few  wicker  chairs,  and  many  little 
toys  of  the  baby  were  on  the  floor.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones,  parents  of  Mrs.  Crould, 
were  enjoying  this  spot  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  and  the  baby.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  are  healthy-looking,  pleasant  people,  somewhat  beyond  middle  age,  with  a 
well-provided-for  air.  While  magazines  and  papers  were  at  hand,  the  baby  was 
really  the  center  of  attraction.  As  the  baby  played  at  Mrs.  Gould's  feet  she 
watched  him  and  talked  of  him  with  an  adoring  look.  Mr.  Gould  stood  in  the 
doorway,  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  his  eyes  centered  on  the  baby.  He  and 
Mrs.  Gould  both  took  pride  in  teUing  how  the  baby  had  improved.  The  baby  is 
well  developed  for  his  fifteen  months.  He  was  taking  steps  with  balance  and 
assurance  and  was  saying  words.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  are  proud  of  the  fact  that 
he  says  "Papa  and  Mamma"  and  can  repeat  other  words  when  told  to.  Mrs. 
Gould  talked  of  his  diet,  and  there  is  no  question  but  that  she  has  been  successful 
in  feeding  and  training  him,  according  to  Dr.  Holt.  They  are  anxious  to  com- 
plete the  steps  for  legal  adoption.  Agent  had  a  conversation  alone  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gould,  asking  a  few  more  questions  regarding  finances,  etc.  Mr.  Gould  said 
that  financially  he  was  much  better  fixed  than  when  he  had  taken  the  child.  His 
salary  has  been  increased  practically  $600  during  the  present  year.  His  present 
yearly  salary  is  nearly  $3000.  He  owns  his  house,  valued  at  $7000.  There  is 
a  50  per  cent,  mortgage  on  this,  however,  which  he  will  no  doubt  be  able  to  pay 
off  in  a  reasonable  time.  Mr.  Gould  feels  that  there  is  no  question  about  his 
being  able  to  send  the  boy  through  school  and  college.  He  said,  "We  would  not 
give  this  youngster  up  for  anything."  Mrs.  Gould  said,  "  I  always  knew  from  the 
first  that  I  would  never  give  him  up  and  that  it  would  make  no  difference  whatever 
he  might  develop  later,  that  I  would  always  love  him.  He  might  turn  out  a 
cripple  or  possibly  defective  in  some  way,  but  I  would  love  him  just  the  same." 
Agent  sat  with  Mrs.  Gould  in  the  dining-room  while  she  fed  the  baby.  He  ate 
his  food  with  reUsh,  and  as  he  sat  there  by  Mrs.  Gould  there  could  be  no  question 
that  there  was  a  perfect  relationship  of  child  and  mother  here.  This  child  even 
looks  a  good  deal  like  Mrs.  Gould,  which  pleases  her.    Mrs.  Gould  is  a  pretty, 

[  106  ] 


healthy-looking  woman,  with  a  genuine,  direct  way  of  meeting  people,  and  im- 
pressed agent  as  having  a  most  genuine  and  motherly  love  for  the  baby. 

Reference. — Mrs.  Arthur  Shendon,  Street,  .     Mrs.  Shendon  is  a 

straightforward,  sensible  little  woman.  She  began,  "I  wish  all  your  children 
could  get  as  fine  a  home  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  have  given  this  baby."  She  smiled 
when  she  described  how  crazy  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gould  were  about  him.  She  told 
how  Mrs.  Gould  hurried  home  before  six  in  the  afternoon  because  the  baby  must 
have  his  supper  and  be  put  to  bed  by  that  hour.  The  Goulds  could  not  possibly 
love  their  own  baby  more  than  they  do  this  child.  They  have  gone  to  any  expense 
in  caring  for  him.  He  was  puny  and  Uttle  when  they  first  got  him,  but  they  had 
him  under  a  specialist's  care,  and  have  given  him  oil  baths.  Now  he  is  a  fine- 
looking  specimen.  Mrs.  Shendon  said  that  she  was  very  fond  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gould;  that  they  often  came  to  supper  in  her  house,  sometimes  twice  a  week. 
She  felt  that  she  knew  them  well;  in  fact,  she  had  always  known  Mr.  Gould. 
She  considers  them  both  fine,  honest  young  people.  Financially  there  is  no  ques- 
tion but  that  they  are  well  fixed.  She  said,  "  I  don't  suppose  Mr.  Gould  ever  owed 
a  penny  in  his  life. "  They  are  not  rehgious  fanatics,  but  they  are  good,  straight- 
forward people.  Mrs.  Shendon  impressed  agent  as  interested  in  the  child  first 
and  in  seeing  him  get  the  right  home. 

Note. — October  29,  '18.    Adoption  approved.    Family  notified. 

Letter. — March  16,  '19.  Mr.  Gould  writes  that  the  adoption  was  completed 
December  19,  1918.  The  boy  is  doing  finely  and  he  and  his  wife  are  very  much 
pleased  with  him. 

Second  Case 

PhiUp  Tucker  was  four  when  he  was  placed  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Morgan 
in  a  remote  country  home.  He  came  of  a  notorious  family,  and  was  backward  in 
his  speech,  very  babyish,  and  small  for  his  -age. 

Placement. — By  M.  M. — December  12,  *16.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  met  agent 
at  the  train.  Agent  was  well  impressed  by  both  of  them.  They  had  Httle  to  say 
about  Phihp,  but  agent  thinks  that  they  were  disappointed  in  him.  Mrs.  Morgan 
merely  said  he  was  small  for  his  age,  and  that  he  looked  deUcate.  She  has  not 
had  very  much  experience  with  small  children,  but  she  does  not  feel  at  all  helpless. 
She  was  surprised  when  agent  told  her  not  to  give  Phihp  pork.  They  seemed  to 
think  that  they  would  like  to  take  a  httle  girl  very  soon  if  they  get  on  all  right  with 
Phihp.  Mr.  Morgan  was  disappointed  because  Phihp  seemed  ready  to  cry  but 
agent  told  him  that  Phihp  was  very  tired  and  shy  and  that  she  would  be  surprised 
if  he  did  not  cry. 

Visit. — By  M.  M. — May  25,  '17.  This  seems  to  be  a  satisfactory  placement. 
Agent  got  a  favorable  impression  of  the  Morgans.  They  seem  like  genuine 
people,  quiet  and  refined.  The  house,  though  somewhat  torn  up  on  account  of 
house  cleaning,  showed  many  dainty  touches.  The  Morgans  soon  became 
attached  to  Phihp,  and  they  say  now  that  they  do  not  beheve  that  any  child 
would  be  more  satisfactory.  They  consider  him  bright  and  affectionate.  Their 
relatives  have  accepted  Phihp  as  a  member  of  the  family,  and  are  very  fond  of 
him.  Phihp  has  improved  in  appearance.  He  has  good  color,  his  eyes  are  bright, 
and  he  is  full  of  life  and  apparently  happy.  He  was  dressed  in  overalls  and  was 
clean.    Mrs.  Morgan  has  made  some  pretty  suits  for  him,  but  she  says  Mr. 

[1071 


Morgan  likes  to  see  him  in  overalls.  Philip  remembered  agent,  and  for  a  few 
minutes  he  was  very  solemn  and  was  evidently  thinking  of  his  former  home. 
Agent  wondered  whether  he  would  want  to  return  with  her,  but  it  apparently 
never  occurred  to  him.  He  seems  to  feel  perfectly  at  home.  He  seems  to  take 
an  interest  in  the  farm  and  wanted  to  take  the  agent  out  to  see  the  young  chickens. 
Philip  knows  all  his  letters,  which  he  has  learned  from  his  blocks,  and  did  not  make 
a  single  mistake.  He  can  count  a  httle  and  spell  a  few  words.  The  Morgans 
think  that  he  has  an  unusually  active  mind. 

Visit. — ^By  M.  B. — June  26,  '18.  Mrs.  Morgan  was  apologetic  over  having  agent 
find  her  in  her  work  clothes  and  Phihp  in  his  Uttle  soiled  overalls.  Agent  did  not 
think  she  needed  to  apologize,  for  although  she  was  in  her  work  clothes  she  was 
neat  and  clean,  and  so  was  the  house.  She  left  Phihp  to  entertain  the  visitor 
while  she  went  to  change  her  dress.  Agent  found  Phihp  very  entertaining,  as  he 
can  read  practically  all  of  his  httle  reading  book,  spells  quite  a  number  of  words, 
and  talks  and  explains  the  working  of  his  toy  ship  and  other  things  in  a  remarkably 
intelUgent  way.  He  has  not  started  to  school  yet,  but  has  been  taught  carefully 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan,  who  are  proud  of  his  attainments  and  consider  him  very 
bright.  He  was  friendly  with  visitor,  and  brought  out  his  reading  book  and  toys 
without  any  urging.  He  is  an  attractive  httle  fellow,  with  dark  hair  and  tanned 
skin  and  bright  brown  eyes.  Mr.  Morgan  came  in  from  his  field  work  while 
agent  was  there,  and  impressed  agent  as  an  unusually  intelhgent  and  thoughtful 
man.  He  is  rather  good  looking,  with  more  the  appearance  and  manners  of  a 
college  man  than  an  ordinary  farmer.  He  seemed  more  at  ease  with  visitor  than 
Mrs.  Morgan,  although  both  were  cordial.  They  both  are  fond  of  Philip,  and 
wish  to  adopt  him.  Agent  received  a  most  favorable  impression  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morgan,  their  home,  and  their  treatment  of  Philip.  He  is  undoubtedly  happy 
with  them,  and  has  become  a  large  part  of  their  hfe. 

(Shortly  after  this  visit  Philip's  sister,  Helen,  was  placed  in  this  home.  Helen 
was  seven  at  the  time.) 

Visit. — By  M.  B. — November  27,  '18.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  is  an 
excellent  farm  home,  where  both  Phihp  and  Helen  are  receiving  great  kindness  and 
the  best  of  attention.  They  are  treated  as  own  children  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan. 
Phihp  is  a  bright-faced  httle  youngster,  with  bright  brown  eyes,  pink  cheeks,  good 
teeth,  and  a  pleasant,  friendly  manner.  He  is  healthy  looking.  He  talked 
freely  with  the  agent,  and  expressed  himself  well.  He  is  in  the  first  grade  in 
school,  and  will  perhaps  go  into  the  second  soon.  He  moves  along  rapidly  at 
school,  no  doubt  because  of  the  close  supervision  given  his  work  at  home.  Mrs. 
Morgan  attributes  the  habits  and  disposition  of  the  two  children  to  a  large  extent 
to  circumstances,  and  not  to  native  endowment.  She  thinks  that  she  has  ehmi- 
nated  some  of  the  traits  in  Phihp  which  now  appear  in  Helen.  She  hopes  to  correct 
these  in  Helen,  but,  of  course,  will  find  it  harder,  as  she  is  taking  hold  much  later. 
These  two  children  seem  to  be  perfectly  at  home  together,  and  will  no  doubt  be  a 
good  influence  on  each  other.  Phihp  shows,  both  in  his  disposition  and  habits 
and  mental  level,  careful  training  and  a  good  home. 

Visit. — By  A.  C.  H. — ^January  23,  '19.  Mrs.  Morgan  was  in  the  kitchen  baking, 
and  although  she  was  surprised  to  see  agent,  she  was  natiu-al  and  not  at  all  ill  at 
ease.  Mr.  Morgan  went  to  the  school  and  brought  the  children  up  in  the  car, 
telling  them  that  their  mother  had  a  guest  for  dinner.  It  is  their  usual  custom  to 
have  their  lunch  at  school.    The  house  was  in  good  order.    The  kitchen  was  spick 

[108  1 


and  span,  although  Mrs.  Morgan  was  working  there.  The  American  Magazine 
was  lying  on  the  table  in  the  Hving-room,  and  although  it  is  a  plain  home,  with 
very  simple  furnishings,  it  had  an  exceedingly  home-like  appearance.  The  chil- 
dren dashed  in  from  school,  full  of  hfe,  and  looking  rosy  and  healthy.  Helen 
hasn't,  however,  nearly  the  color  that  PhiUp  has,  although  she  looks  much  better 
than  when  she  came.  The  children  went  straight  to  their  rooms,  hanging  up 
their  coats  and  hats  after  they  had  been  introduced  to  the  agent,  and  then  sat 
down  in  little  rocking-chairs  Uke  grown-ups  with  their  company  manners  on. 
Mrs.  Morgan  suggested  that  they  show  the  agent  the  things  they  had  for  Christ- 
mas, and  they  were  full  of  enthusiasm.  They  had  no  end  of  little  trinkets  from 
various  relatives.  Even  aunts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  in  Georgia  had  sent  the 
children  things,  one  sending  two  dollars  to  each.  Helen  said  Santa  Claus  had 
never  been  so  good  to  her  before.  Helen  wore  a  light  blue  wash  dress,  which  was 
very  becoming.  Mrs.  Morgan  says  she  is  a  dirty  little  child  with  her  clothes, 
and  should  have  a  clean  frock  every  day,  but  it  makes  so  much  laundry  that  she 
has  a  clean  one  only  every  other  day.  The  little  boy  is  attractive  looking,  seems 
unusually  observing,  and  possibly  brighter  than  Helen.  He  had  always  remem- 
bered his  little  sister  and  often  spoke  of  her.  They  soon  became  fast  friends, 
and  now  they  are  inseparable.  The  Httle  room  oflF  the  living  room  is  used  as  a 
play  room.  There  is  an  old  couch  in  it,  and  all  the  children's  toys.  They  have  to 
keep  the  room  in  order.  Every  night  before  they  go  to  bed  either  Mr.  or  Mrs. 
Morgan  reads  to  the  children.  Usually  Mr.  Morgan  does  the  reading  while 
Mrs.  Morgan  sews.  Philip  has  a  protective  manner  toward  his  sister  and  always 
defends  her.  He  will  never  tell  on  her,  but  she  is  not  the  same  with  him.  She  is 
not  as  selfish  as  when  she  first  came.  She  demanded  waiting  on  entirely.  She 
would  not  even  get  a  drink  of  water  for  herself  and  made  a  httle  slave  of  Philip. 
Mrs.  Morgan  thought  that  it  was  bad  for  Helen  and  stopped  it.  They  play  so 
much  on  their  way  back  and  forth  from  school  that  occasionally  they  are  late. 
They  seem  very  congenial,  and  while  they  fight  Hke  brothers  and  sisters,  they  soon 
make  it  up.  The  children  played  about  the  room  naturally  and  then  we  all  had 
dinner  together.  They  have  nice  table  manners,  and  Mrs.  Morgan  seems  to  train 
them  as  easily  as  if  she  had  always  had  them. 

In  speaking  of  the  adoption,  agent  asked  Mrs.  Morgan  if  she  really  was  as 
fond  of  Helen  as  she  was  of  PhiUp,  and  she  thought  a  minute  and  said,  "Why, 
yes;  Helen  is  more  affectionate  than  Philip,  but  somehow  we  don't  think  of  them 
separately,  and  I  don't  believe  we  are  fonder  of  one  than  of  the  other  now." 
They  would  like  to  adopt  them  both  as  soon  as  possible.  Mr.  Morgan  sat  by  the 
fire  and  watched  the  children  as  they  played  about  and  made  occasional  interested 
suggestions.  He  is  a  very  wholesome,  straightforward  young  man,  and  will  give 
the  children  every  advantage  within  his  means.  He  says  he  did  not  have  a  college 
education,  but  he  will  give  the  children  as  much  education  as  they  can  take. 
They  have  a  number  of  friends  and  relatives  in  the  vicinity,  as  the.v  have  always 
lived  here.  They  go  about  a  good  deal,  as  thej'^  have  their  own  car,  often  going  to 
the  movies.  While  they  are  thrifty,  they  are  by  no  means  so  hardworking  that 
they  do  not  enjoy  a  good  time.  Mrs.  Morgan  impressed  agent  as  an  exceptionally 
fine  woman,  refined  in  her  appearance,  and  the  type  of  woman  who  would  be  a 
splendid  mother.  She  is  not  excitable  nor  easily  disturbed.  She  has  studied  the 
children,  and  realizes  that  she  must  keep  on  studying  them  in  order  to  discipline 
them  properly.    She  never  nags  nor  scolds  them,  but  seems  to  have  perfect  disci- 

[109] 


pline  over  them;  so  does  Mr.  Morgan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  seem  to  be  un- 
usually congenial.  They  like  the  .same  sort  of  things,  and  each  defers  to  the 
other's  judgment  in  an  exceedingly  courteous  and  thoughtful  way.  Mrs.  Morgan 
is  very  well  and  strong,  and  does  her  housework  easily,  helps  outside  with  the 
milk,  and  does  her  own  sewing  and  that  of  the  children.  She  says  two  children 
are  not  much  more  trouble  than  one,  because  they  are  such  company  for  each 
other.  She  does  not  know  how  PhiUp  would  ever  get  on  without  Helen.  He 
tags  her  around  in  the  most  adoring  fashion.  Twice  while  the  family  were  sitting 
there  Helen  went  up  to  her  mother  and  laid  her  head  on  her  shoulder  in  a  very 
sweet  and  affectionate  way.  She  certainly  is  as  happy  and  contented  in  her 
manner  as  any  child  could  be. 

Everything  about  the  whole  situation  seemed  absolutely  natural.  It  was  hard 
to  reahze  that  the  children  had  not  been  there  always.  There  is  something  about 
the  atmosphere  of  the  home  that  is  difl&cult  to  describe.  One  is  impressed  with 
the  substantial  quaUties,  the  genuineness,  the  wholesomeness.  It  is  not  a  home 
one  would  ever  associate  with  wrangUng  or  pettiness.  Agent  referred  to  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  children  playing  there  together,  and  Mr.  Morgan  said, 
"Yes,  but  that  doesn't  mean  anything  to  them  now  such  as  it  will  in  fifteen  years 
from  now,  when  they  reahze  that  they  really  are  own  brother  and  sister."  They 
look  forward  to  the  future  of  the  children  in  a  very  intelUgent  way,  and  agent 
feels  that  in  this  home  the  children  will  have  a  very  good  start  in  life. 

Note. — June  19,  '19.     Good  school  report. 

Visit. — ^June  29,  '19.     Satisfactory  visit  by  another  agent. 

Adoption  Visit.— By  M.  E.  B.,  March  30,  '20.  The  family  were  all  at  home 
and  cordial  in  their  greeting.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  had  just  come  in  from  milk- 
ing. Mrs.  Morgan's  hair  was  down  in  a  braid;  she  was  neatly  dressed  in  a  wash 
dress.  The  children  appeared  very  well.  PhiUp,  however,  did  look  queer,  as 
his  head  was  practically  shaved  three- fourths  of  the  way  to  the  top,  and  there  was 
a  good  crop  of  hair  on  top.  He  was  much  interested  in  showing  agent  a  toy 
tractor.  His  father  said  he  was  greatly  interested  in  mechanical  things.  He  is 
in  the  second  grade  of  the  local  school.  It  is  over  a  mile  away.  In  the  worst 
weather  Mr.  Morgan  takes  the  children,  and  in  winter  they  coast  and  pull  each 
other  up  hill.  Both  of  these  children  seem  to  love  the  out-of-doors  and  the  animals 
on  the  farm  and  are  wholesome,  happy  children.  Phihp  was  neatly  dressed,  but 
his  shoes  were  in  bad  condition.  However,  agent  imagines  that  he  has  better 
ones  and  is  hard  on  his  every-day  ones.  When  the  agent  left,  the  children  with 
their  dinner  pails  were  starting  to  school.  Miss  Wood,  the  teacher,  said  that  the 
children  were  bright  and  happy.  The  school  closes  April  1  and  both  wUl  be  pro- 
moted. Although  this  was  just  a  tiny  district  school,  the  work  exhibited  on  the 
wall  showed  that  the  teacher  was  well  trained.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  are  whole- 
some, progressive  people.  They  are  comfortably  situated,  and  are  gradually 
making  improvements  on  the  farm.  They  have  a  furnace,  and  hope  to  have  a 
bath-room  soon.  Mr.  Morgan's  father  helps  him  in  the  summer,  and  he  has  a 
great  deal  of  machinery,  so  he  is  able  to  get  on  without  hired  help.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morgan  spoke  of  wishing  to  adopt  the  children  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
children  play  nicely  together,  occasionally  have  httle  quarrels,  but  soon  get  over 
them.  Agent  could  see  no  reason  why  this  adoption  should  not  go  through  as 
this  is  above  the  average  farm  home.  Agent  saw  George  Henry,  a  feed  man  in 
.     He  said  Mr.  Morgan  was  one  of  the  best  farmers  they  had  in  the  country 

1110] 


excellent  pay,  and  industrious.     He  keeps  a  car  and  has  a  good  time  in  it.     Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  are  from  good  famiUes,  and  he  said  he  could  recommend 
the  home  for  as  many  children  as  they  would  take.     Agent  also  called  to  see  Mr. 
WiUiam  Perry,  an  original  reference,  but  he  was  out  of  town. 
Note. — April  6,  '20.     Adoption  approved;  family  notified. 

Third  Case 

The  case  of  Martha  Dean  illustrates  the  help  given  to  an  older  girl  through 
her  school  days,  and  the  type  of  supervision  necessary. 

Martha  was  fourteen  when  she  was  placed  with  a  widow,  Mrs.  Wilton.  Her 
mother  was  incurably  insane,  and  her  father,  an  irresponsible,  worthless  man, 
had  served  a  number  of  terms  in  jaU.  He  had  never  supported  his  family  ade- 
quately, and  his  wife's  insanity  was  due  in  part  to  his  abuse.  Martha  had  been 
two  years  in  an  institution,  and  little  was  known  of  her  personality  before  she  was 
placed.  Mrs.  Wilton  kept  a  few  lodgers,  all  women,  and  Martha  was  to  help 
somewhat  with  the  housework.  Mrs.  Wilton's  income  was  derived  partly  from 
the  lodgers  and  partly  from  securities.  It  was  not  large,  but  at  that  time,  in  1910, 
was  considered  adequate  for  two  people. 

The  first  visits  showed  a  satisfactory  situation.  There  was  a  good  under- 
standing and  considerable  affection  between  Martha  and  Mrs.  Wilton.  Martha 
was  doing  good  school  work,  and  was  given  plenty  of  time  at  home  for  her  study- 
ing. She  was  a  good  deal  of  help  to  Mrs.  Wilton  when  the  latter  was  ill. 
Both  Martha  and  Mrs.  Wilton  seemed  satisfied  with  the  arrangement.  In 
January,  1913,  Mrs.  Wilton  became  seriously  crippled  with  rheumatism  and  had 
to  have  a  woman  come  in  every  day  to  do  the  work,  as  Martha's  school  work 
took  most  of  her  time  and  strength.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Wilton  hopes  that  it  will  be 
possible  to  have  Martha  go  to  High  School,  as  she  is  doing  so  well  in  her  work,  but 
she  is  short  of  ready  money  at  present.  Mrs.  Wilton  evidently  tries  to  have 
Martha  have  nice  clothes,  and  is  really  anxious  to  do  everything  she  can  for  the 
girl.  Visitor  thinks  Martha  is  fortunate  to  be  so  near  a  good  school,  and  she  does 
not  seem  to  lack  for  anything.  Mrs.  Wilton  still  feels,  however,  that  she  will  have 
to  have  a  little  help  if  she  is  to  send  Martha  to  High  School,  as  she  has  to  pay  a 
woman  to  come  in  every  day  and  do  the  work  that  Martha  could  easily  help  in 
doing  if  she  did  not  have  to  spend  so  much  time  on  her  lessons.  If  this  help 
could  be  given,  visitor  thinks  it  would  be  a  good  idea,  as  there  is  no  doubt  that 
Mrs.  Wilton  does  everything  she  can  for  Martha.  The  schools  are  excellent  and 
have  good  standing,  and  if  Martha  could  stay  where  she  is  and  attend  High 
School,  it  would  be  very  satisfactory,  as  Martha  is  company  for  Mrs.  Wilton  and 
seems  much  attached  to  her. 

Visit.— By  L.  M.  G.— Oct.  14,  '13.  Visitor  found  Mrs.  Wilton  much  better 
than  she  has  been  for  some  time.  She  had  had  a  hired  girl  up  to  the  previous 
week,  but  was  trying  now  to  get  along  without  one.  Martha  is  so  capable  and 
anxious  to  do  everything  she  can  that  Mrs.  Wilton  thinks  that  they  are  going  to 
manage  nicely.  Martha  is  much  more  considerate  and  thoughtful  than  she  used 
to  be,  and  seems  to  appreciate  everything  that  Mrs.  Wilton  tries  to  do  for  her. 
Martha  is  in  the  eighth  grade  now,  and  will  finish  her  grade  work  in  January, 
but  it  will  not  be  possible  to  send  her  to  High  School  unless  she  receives  some  help 
— about  three  dollars  a  week — as  her  expenses  will  be  greater  than  they  are  at 

[111] 


the  present  time.  Visitor  saw  Martha  at  school.  She  was  nicely  dressed  and  is 
an  unusually  nice-looking  girl,  capable  and  self-reliant.  Martha  looks  happy, 
and  visitor  thinks  it  would  be  a  splendid  thing  if  an  effort  were  made  to  raise  the 
money  so  that  she  could  go  to  High  School. 

Note. — ^Jan.  28,  '14.  The  Association  succeeded  in  raising  money  to  pay  Mrs. 
Wilton  an  allowance  for  Martha;  three  dollars  a  week  for  over  three  years  and 
five  dollars  a  week  for  nearly  one  year. 

Visit.— By  L.  M.  G.— Feb.  5,  '15.  Mrs.  Wilton  reported  that  Martha  had 
been  suffering  from  severe  headaches. 

Arrangements  were  made  for  an  examination  by  an  oculist,  which  was  followed 
by  a  second  examination  a  week  or  two  later.  As  Mrs.  Wilton  was  unable  to  pay 
the  fee  and  carfare,  the  Association  paid  the  bill.     Martha  was  suppHed  with 


Visit. — By  L.  M.  G. — Apr.  4,  '16.  Martha  is  feeling  much  better.  There  is  a 
girl  boarding  with  them  who  is  in  the  first  year  High  School.  Her  name  is  Ger- 
trude, and  she  is  a  daughter  of  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Wilton's  and  a  shy,  sweet-appearing 
girl.  Mrs.  Wilton  feels  that  she  is  a  splendid  influence  for  Martha.  The  girls 
seem  to  enjoy  each  other's  company,  and  Mrs.  Wilton  said  that  all  they  had  to 
do  was  to  help  with  the  dishes  in  the  evening.  The  girls  enjoy  seeing  how  quickly 
they  can  get  the  work  finished  up  so  as  to  have  the  evening  free.  Mrs.  Wilton 
and  Martha  seem  to  understand  each  other  perfectly,  and  Martha  appears  happy. 
Visitor  thinks  that  conditions  have  much  improved  with  a  young  girl  in  the  house. 
Martha  is  not  so  lonely  and  Mrs.  Wilton  seems  to  enjoy  having  the  two  girls  there. 

During  the  following  summer  Martha  earned  a  small  amount  of  money  by 
berry  picking  and  was  able  to  buy  or  make  many  of  her  clothes  for  the  following 
winter.  In  the  following  autumn  Martha  entered  the  teacher's  training  class  at 
Shefl&eld,  to  continue  her  studies  and  to  practice  teaching.  She  made  the  plans 
and  arrangements  herself.  Martha  wrote  often  to  the  Association,  to  acknowl- 
edge her  allowance  and  to  report  on  her  school  progress. 

Visit. — By  C.  E. — Oct.  30,  '17.  Visitor  had  a  visit  of  an  hour  and  a  half  with 
Martha,  which  was  very  satisfactory.  Martha  is  in  a  good  boarding  house  with  a 
comfortable  room,  electric  Ught,  etc.,  and  the  people  who  keep  it  are  pleasant, 
old-fashioned  people.  Martha's  room  is  quite  large,  has  two  windows  and  a  com- 
fortable-looking double  bed,  pretty  wall  paper,  and  two  or  three  chairs  and  a 
table  besides  her  bureau.  Martha  takes  care  of  the  room  and  frequently  asks  to 
be  allowed  to  help  with  the  dishes,  as  she  misses  the  housework  she  did  at  home. 
She  reads  and  crochets.  She  has  just  decided  to  give  up  candy  for  a  time  and  to 
take  a  definite  amount  of  exercise  every  day.  She  also  sleeps  with  one  window 
wide  open.  She  has  more  color  than  when  agent  saw  her  before,  and  seems 
broader  in  the  chest  and  shoulders.  She  thoroughly  enjoys  her  school  work. 
There  are  nine  girls  in  the  training  class  with  one  teacher,  who  Martha  thinks  is 
well  equipped  and  thorough.  The  teacher  told  Martha  not  to  worry  over  her 
work,  so  Martha  concluded  that  it  must  be  satisfactory.  The  studies  include 
pedagogy,  psychology,  history,  EngUsh,  speUing,  arithmetic,  and  writing.  Martha 
attends  the  Methodist  Church  and  sometimes  the  church  socials.  She  is  most 
anxious  that  Mrs.  Wilton  be  paid  what  she  advanced  her  last  summer,  as  she  is  a 
little  short  at  the  present  time.  Martha  needs  a  dollar  a  week  for  incidentals. 
She  says  that  her  headaches  have  practically  stopped.  She  misses  Mrs.  Wilton 
very  much.     Visitor  discovered  that  Martha  is  interested  in  Mrs.  Wilton's 

fll2  1 


nephew,  a  young  man  who  works  in  a  factory  in .     She  says  she  does  not  want 

to  think  of  getting  married  until  she  has  taught  three  or  four  years.  She  says 
Mrs.  Wilton  does  not  discuss  the  matter,  as  she  does  not  want  to  encourage  either 
of  the  young  people.  Martha  is  a  sensible,  earnest,  worth-while  girl,  deeply 
appreciative  of  all  that  the  S.  C.  A.  A.  has  done  for  her,  but  with  quite  a  bit  of 
pride,  and  she  is  very  anxious  to  be  self-supporting.     The  following  is  a  Hst  of  the 

clothes  needed  by  Martha. Martha  did  not  take  it  for  granted  that  she  would 

get  any  of  these  things,  and  visitor  had  to  drag  each  item  out  of  her.  Visitor 
feels  that  she  is  so  worth-while  that  it  is  certainly  worth  an  effort  to  get  as  many  of 
these  things  as  possible  for  her  in  order  that  she  may  continue  her  work  without 
being  imder  the  strain  of  being  insufficiently  equipped. 

Note. — Mar.  28,  '18.     Materials  sent  to  Martha  for  her  commencement  dress. 

Letter. — ^June  13,  '18.  Letter  from  Martha  acknowledging  the  money  sent 
her.  She  has  a  school  near  Sheffield  for  the  fall.  She  will  have  about  twelve 
pupils,  and  every  one  says  it  is  a  desirable  school.  She  will  receive  $13.50  a  week, 
and  will  pay  $4.00  for  board.  Again  she  expresses  appreciation  for  all  the  kind- 
ness shown  her.  Martha  says  she  will  remember  us  all  as  a  bright  spot  in  her  life 
and  will  be  glad  to  see  any  of  us  at  any  time. 

Letter. — April  1,  '19.  Letter  from  Martha  in  which  she  incloses  an  invitation 
to  her  wedding  April  16th  to  John  Hamilton.  Martha  says  she  is  getting  a  very 
good  man.  He  is  a  good  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  a  foreman  in  the 
Daly  Furniture  Company.  He  has  the  house  where  they  are  to  Uve  partly  fur- 
nished, and  the  rest  they  will  furnish  as  they  can.  He  is  making  everything  easy 
for  her,  and  she  expects  to  be  very  happy.  She  hopes  to  remain  friends  with  the 
S.  C.  A.  A.  and  appreciates  all  that  they  have  done  for  her. 

This  case  illustrates  several  features  of  the  supervision  of  older 
girls  which  are  worth  pointing  out.  For  one  thing  it  shows  the  value 
of  continued  supervision,  even  in  a  home  where,  for  the  first  few  years, 
it  may  seem  unnecessary.  Here  the  Association  did  Uttle  more  than 
observe  this  placement  for  three  or  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  and  from  then  on  substantial  assistance  was  needed  to  keep 
Martha  in  school.  In  some  homes  it  is  not  possible  to  make  such  an 
arrangement,  even  by  subsidies,  because  the  girl's  help  is  needed  at 
home.  In  such  situations  the  agency  must  sometimes  choose  between 
depriving  a  promising  child  of  further  education  or  practically  break- 
ing up  the  household.  The  choice  will  usually  be  keeping  the  girl  at 
home,  where  affection  for  her  family  and  a  sense  of  her  share  in  the 
family  burdens  would  naturally  keep  her  if  she  were  the  family's  own 
child.  The  question  to  ask  oneself  in  making  such  a  decision  is,  what 
will  be  more  important  to  this  girl  ten  years  from  now,  further  educa- 
tion or  a  close  family  tie?  The  answer  naturally  differs  with  the  dif- 
8  [  113  ] 


ferent  situations  and  the  temperaments  involved.  Needless  to  say, 
the  agency  will  do  everything  possible  to  avert  a  situation  in  which 
such  a  choice  is  necessary. 

Value  of  Prolonged  Supervision. — ^Unforeseen  misfortunes  happen 
in  foster  families,  as  in  all  families,  and  it  is  just  at  these  crises  that 
the  agency  can  be  of  help,  and  it  is  because  of  this  possible  need  that 
it  should  keep  closely  in  touch,  even  with  the  best  of  foster  homes.  The 
agency  may  find  that  it  has  to  provide  money  to  keep  a  child  in  school, 
or  for  medical  care  of  the  child.  If  the  home  has  proved  a  good  home 
for  the  child  in  question,  has  met  his  needs  and  made  him  happy,  un- 
doubtedly the  agency  will  wish  to  help  to  keep  the  two  together.  If, 
however,  the  home  has  been  unsatisfactory,  it  is  certainly  not  worth 
while  to  put  money  into  subsidizing  it. 

Termination  of  Supervision. — A  word  should  be  said  about  the 
termination  of  the  agency's  care  of  the  children.  The  agency's  author- 
ity ceases  when  the  child  is  legally  adopted,  when  he  has  grown  to 
the  age  of  self-support  and  is  capable  of  looking  out  for  himself,  when 
he  is  married,  or  when  he  is  transferred  to  an  institution  for  a  special 
sort  of  care.  It  should  be  made  clear,  however,  that  this  cessation  of 
supervision  does  not  necessarily  mean  a  break  in  the  friendly  relations 
between  the  child  and  the  agency;  many  of  the  adopted  children  con- 
tinue in  touch  with  the  organization.  Occasionally,  in  giving  its  con- 
sent for  adoption,  this  agency  stipulates  that  the  family  report  on  the 
child's  development  once  or  twice  a  year.  In  general,  however,  it 
must  be  left  to  the  foster  family  to  take  the  initiative  in  maintaining 
its  connection  with  the  agency  after  the  child  is  adopted.  The  agency 
does  not  visit  the  adopted  children,  unless  in  exceptional  cases;  for 
instance,  if  the  foster  family  has  invited  the  agent  to  drop  in  occa- 
sionally, or  if  there  has  been  some  special  cause  for  concern  about  the 
child  and  the  agent  wishes  to  keep  informed  about  it  in  a  friendly  way. 
The  agency  writes  occasionally  to  the  foster  families,  perhaps  five 
or  six  years  after  adoption,  to  find  put  what  has  happened  and  how  the 
child  has  developed.  Now  and  again  the  foster  family  will  come  back 
to  the  office  for  advice  if  they  are  in  difficulties.  Usually  their  problem 
is  the  child's  behavior  and  they  can  often  be  substantially  helped  to  a 

[114] 


solution  by  the  agency.  For  instance,  a  most  inteUigent  foster  mother 
recently  called  to  ask  the  agency's  advice  about  sending  to  a  boarding 
school  her  adopted  son  of  ten,  who  was  getting  rather  beyond  control 
at  home.  This  agency  has,  however,  no  system  either  of  visiting  or 
of  communicating  with  its  adopted  children.  Nor  is  the  break  with 
the  organization  automatically  made  when  the  child  reaches  the  age 
of  eighteen  or  twenty-one,  for  many  boys  and  girls  of  eighteen  need 
supervision  as  much  as  the  children  under  ten.  The  time  at  which  ac- 
tive supervision  ends  is  determined  not  by  the  age  of  the  child,  but  by 
the  circumstances.  A  girl  is  not  left  to  drift  from  job  to  job,  even  if 
she  is  twenty-three  or  twenty-four.  When  the  agency  has  assured 
itself  that  she  can  take  care  of  herself  without  help,  supervision  is 
withdrawn.  Perhaps  we  should  add  that  supervision  of  these  older 
boys  and  girls  is  as  unobtrusive  as  possible,  and  that  every  effort  is 
made  to  prevent  their  being  known  as  wards  of  "a  charity." 


115 


CHAPTER  V 
REPLACEMENTS 

In  discussing  this  question  it  was  decided  to  omit  the  replacement  of 
children  under  five,  so  seldom  has  this  been  necessary  in  the  experience 
of  this  Association. 

Child's  Feeling  About  Replacements. — The  agency  has  one  advan- 
tage in  replacing  children  which  it  cannot  have  in  the  first  placement, 
and  that  is  a  knowledge  of  how  the  child  will  behave  in  a  certain  en- 
vironment. Replacements  are  usually  made  with  much  more  knowl- 
edge of  the  child's  capacities  and  characteristics  than  is  possible  in  the 
first  placement,  and  that  fact  often  makes  replacements  more  suc- 
cessful. When  the  agency  has  had  a  chance  to  observe  the  child  in  one 
home  it  can  judge  better  how  he  will  behave  in  another  type  of  home — 
whether  he  will  adapt  himself  to  family  life  and  what  sort  of  fos- 
ter mother  and  father  he  most  needs.  Offsetting  this  advantage  is, 
however,  an  important  disadvantage.  This  is  the  child's  own  attitude, 
which  is  not  likely  to  be  propitious.  A  child  who  has  had  to  leave  his 
first  foster  home  through  some  fault  of  his  own  is  Hkely  to  be  either 
self-distrustful  because  of  his  failure,  or  defiant  and  careless  of  the 
effect  he  makes.  Neither  of  these  moods  promises  well  for  his  behavior 
in  the  next  adjustment  which  he  will  have  to  make.  A  child  who  has 
had  an  unhappy  experience  in  one  home  dreads  going  to  another.  A 
child  who  has  proved  too  much  for  his  first  foster  parents  is  likely  to 
go  to  a  second  home  with  a  determination  to  get  the  better  of  a  second 
set. 

One  way  of  dealing  with  these  attitudes  is  to  consult  as  far  as  is 
practicable  the  child's  own  feelings  and  preferences.  This  is  one  of  the 
best  ways  to  secure  the  child's  good  will,  and  it  is  particularly  helpful 
in  this  situation.    Another  and,  of  course,  an  obvious  way  is  to  pick 

[  116  1 


out  the  second  home  with  all  possible  care,  keeping  in  mind  the  traits 
which  the  child  has  shown  in  his  first  home  and  what  his  foster  parents 
have  said  about  him. 

Continuity  of  School  Work. — In  the  replacement  of  children  fairly 
advanced  in  school  an  effort  should  always  be  made  to  avoid  inter- 
rupting the  school  year  or  half  year.  Many  children  can  be  kept  in 
the  home  from  which  they  are  to  be  removed  until  they  have  got  their 
promotion.  The  causes  for  removal  are  often  chronic  rather  than 
acute,  and  it  is  possible  to  postpone  the  removal  for  a  month  or  more. 
The  children  themselves  often  feel  strongly  on  the  subject  of  losing 
their  promotion,  and  will  be  antagonized  by  having  their  work  inter- 
rupted. Occasionally  it  is  possible  to  find  a  second  home  in  the  same 
school  district,  and  it  can  sometimes  be  arranged  to  board  the  child 
temporarily  in  that  district  until  the  school  term  is  over. 

As  the  children's  worker  grows  in  experience,  she  learns  not  to  take 
foster  parents  too  Hterally  nor  to  act  too  promptly  when  they  despair- 
ingly announce,  *'  You  must  take  Billy  away  to-day — I  can't  stand  it 
another  minute."  Slowness  in  getting  into  action  on  the  part  of  the 
visitor  will  give  the  foster  family  time  to  settle  down.  Billy,  who  has 
been  brought  up  standing  by  the  realization  that  he  is  to  be  "sent 
back  to  the  office,"  may  be  a  model  child  for  the  next  week,  and  the 
tempest  blows  over,  and  may  be  over  for  good.  One  such  distracted 
foster  mother — one  of  the  most  intelligent — telephoned  the  office  in  the 
afternoon  that  they  must  send  Bobby  back;  he  had  turned  their 
household  topsy-turvy,  offended  the  cook,  and  caused  such  a  rumpus 
in  the  apartment  that  their  landlord  had  given  them  notice.  The  next 
morning  she  telephoned  again.  She  and  her  husband  had  been  talking 
things  over;  Bobby  was,  of  course,  a  young  savage,  but  it  wasn't  his 
fault,  and  he  had  plenty  of  intelligence  to  be  worked  upon.  In  short, 
they  couldn't  bear  to  send  him  back.  That  was  two  years  ago,  and 
Bobby  is  now  firmly  rooted  in  their  family.  Far  from  being  daunted 
by  their  trials  with  him,  they  have  since  adopted  a  second  child. 
Another  foster  mother  decided  that  she  couldn't  keep  her  five-year-old 
foster  son;  he  was  temperamentally  unsuited,  he  showed  no  signs  of 
"fitting  in"  to  her  household,  he  wasn't  "the  kind  of  child"  she 

[117] 


wanted  to  adopt.  As  she  still  was  sure  after  a  month  or  more  that  she 
didn't  want  to  keep  him,  plans  were  made  for  placing  him  elsewhere. 
At  the  eleventh  hour  his  foster  mother,  confronted  by  the  separation, 
realized  that  she  could  not  possibly  give  him  up.  That  was  two  years 
ago,  and  he  is  now  legally  adopted. 

Replacements  involve  among  other  problems  this  one  in  especial; 
if  a  child  is  a  failure  in  one  foster  home  after  another  should  we  con- 
tinue to  try  to  settle  him  in  a  family,  or  should  we  decide  that  he  is  the 
kind  of  child  for  whom  that  particular  plan  will  never  work?  Should 
we  go  on  indefinitely  trying  to  find  the  right  home  for  him? 

The  reasons  why  the  placement  has  failed  should  guide  us  in  this 
decision.  If  the  foster  family  have  been  at  fault — ^if,  for  instance, 
household  changes,  the  death  of  a  foster  parent,  or  an  unsympathetic 
attitude  on  the  part  of  the  foster  parents  are  to  blame — ^unquestion- 
ably we  must  try  again.  If  however,  the  child  himself  has  stubbornly 
resisted  the  efforts  of  his  foster  parents  to  absorb  him  into  their  family 
life,  or  shows  a  continuity  of  naughtiness  which  drives  one  family  after 
another  to  return  him  to  the  agency,  it  is  time  to  ask  ourselves,  is  this 
child  ever  going  to  fit  into  a  household? 

Children  Unsuited  to  Foster  Homes. — It  is  unquestionable  that 
there  are  a  few  children  whose  temperaments  or  experience  have  made 
them  permanently  resistant  to  family  life.  Such  a  child,  for  instance, 
was  a  twelve-year-old  girl  in  the  care  of  this  agency.  She  was  twelve 
when  her  family  was  broken  up  by  the  desertion  of  her  father  and  the 
elopement  of  her  mother  with  another  man.  She  told  her  first  foster 
mother,  "Nobody  need  think  they  could  ever  adopt  me."  Her  de- 
liberate plan  was  to  maintain  an  attitude  of  defiance,  and  to  resist 
affection  and  absorption  into  the  household  life.  "IVe  got  a  father 
and  brothers  and  when  I  get  big  enough  to  earn  money  I'm  going  back 
to  them."  Being  a  child  of  unusual  persistence  and  determination, 
she  was  not  adopted.  For  three  years  she  has  been  in  a  boarding 
school,  where  she  has  maintained  the  same  aloof  attitude.  This  diffi- 
culty is  not  to  be  solved  by  a  foster  home  placement.  Such  children 
need  something  different  from  family  life,  which  to  them  would  mean 
the  substitution  of  foster  parents  for  their  own,  of  an  alien  household 

[118] 


for  their  own — a  substitution  which  runs  counter  to  their  strongest 
instincts. 

Alternatives  to  Foster  Home  Care. — If,  after  continued  placements, 
made  with  the  best  resources  of  the  agency,  the  child  still  fails  to 
settle  down  anywhere,  it  is  probably  wisest  to  give  up  that  method  of 
solving  his  difficulties  and  to  look  for  another.  This  is  often  found  in 
placing  the  child  in  a  more  impersonal  environment,  where  there  will 
be  less  need  for  an  adaptation  to  other  personalities  and  their  demands. 
For  instance,  many  older  girls  who  fail  in  one  family  after  another  will 
be  successful  Uving  in  a  working-girls'  boarding  house  and  going  out 
to  work.  A  similar  arrangement  will  often  work  with  older  boys  who 
get  into  one  scrape  after  another  on  a  farm.  Some  of  the  children  still 
in  school  may  need  the  training  and  the  routine  life,  different  from  that 
of  a  family,  of  some  special  school  or  institution.  One  plan  which  the 
Association  has  found  successful  with  difficult  older  girls  is  to  have 
them  board  in  one  of  the  regular  boarding  homes  where  they  will  have 
a  certain  amount  of  supervision,  and  go  out  to  work.  This  applies 
especially,  of  course,  to  girls  who  dislike  housework.  These  girls  pay 
their  own  board  direct  to  the  boarding  mother,  who  helps  them  buy 
their  clothes  and  keep  them  in  order  and  in  general  keeps  an  eye  on 
the  girls.  The  girls  often  feel  much  more  at  home  in  this  type  of  home 
than  in  the  so-called  working  home,  which  may  be  too  much  above 
them  socially  and  intellectually. 

Effect  on  Child  of  Replacements. — That  continued  replacement 
does  have  an  injurious  effect  on  the  child  is  indisputable.  He  loses 
all  sense  of  stability,  and  with  it  the  feeling  that  he  is  up  against  a 
situation  in  \^ch  he  is  bound  to  make  good.  He  develops  a  sense  of 
evasion;  if  he  can't  get  on  in  this  home,  the  society  will  put  him  in 
another,  and  so  on  into  an  indefinite  future  of  dodging  clear  duties 
and  demands.  He  becomes  hardened  against  training  and  persuasion. 
He  loses  that  sense  of  responsibility  which  is  at  the  basis  of  character 
formation.  He  develops  a  taste  for  the  excitement  of  changing  from 
one  home  to  another;  this  is  one  of  the  most  disastrous  and  most 
conmion  effects  of  many  replacements,  and  is  frequent  even  with  the 
younger  children. 

[119] 


With  a  sensitive  type  of  child  the  effects  are  different  but  equally 
harmful.  He  loses  his  self-confidence  and  his  trust  in  other  people,  and 
becomes  hopelessly  confused  in  his  ideas  of  conduct.  Often  such  a 
child  is  quite  ignorant  of  why  he  is  naughty,  and  feels  that  it  is  some- 
thing beyond  his  control.  For  such  a  child  to  be  constantly  punished 
by  removal  from  one  foster  home  to  another  is  obviously  dangerous. 
It  teaches  him  little,  frightens  him,  and  makes  him  distrustful. 

The  break  in  the  continuity  of  their  Uves  due  to  replacements  has 
another  harmful  effect  on  the  children — ^it  effectually  dispels  any  de- 
pendence that  they  might  have  had  on  the  protection  and  affection  of 
a  new  father  and  mother  after  their  own  have  failed  them.  The  suffer- 
ing that  this  entails  is  sure  to  be  deeply  injurious.  For  one  thing,  it 
makes  nearly  impossible  a  normal  attitude  toward  society  and  causes 
the  child  to  feel  himself  an  outcast.  It  leaves  him  at  loose  ends  so  far 
as  a  sense  of  belonging  to  any  one  person  or  any  one  place  is  con- 
cerned— and  there  are  few  people  with  the  strength  to  stand  so  much 
alone. 

In  general  one  may  say  that  replacements  should  be  avoided  as  far 
as  possible,  and  that  when  they  must  be  made,  it  should  be  with  aU 
possible  care.  If  replacement  after  replacement  is  necessary,  the 
agency  should  stop  to  consider  whether  there  is  something  the  matter 
with  the  child  which  can  be  cured,  or  to  discuss  other  ways  than  re- 
placement of  dealing  with  the  trouble. 

Replacement  Records 
First  Case. 

Anna  Nicholas  was  of  Austrian  parentage,  but  American  birth,  and  was  com- 
mitted to  a  children's  home  when  she  was  six  years  old.  She  was  the  child  of  an 
abusive  and  worthless  and  drunken  father  and  an  ignorant  mother.  Anna 
stayed  in  the  institution  until  she  was  nearly  eleven.  There  they  reported  her  as 
"rather  above  the  average  mentally — has  never  given  any  trouble.  She  is  truth- 
ful, honest,  and  is  a  good-natured,  affectionate  Uttle  girl." 

First  Placement. — The  home  of  an  elderly  widow  living  alone  and  anxious  for 
companionship.  There  Anna  stayed  from  the  time  that  she  was  eleven  until  she 
was  fourteen.  For  the  first  year  her  foster  mother  found  her  entirely  honest,  and 
spoke  of  the  fact  that  she  never  rummaged  through  the  drawers  or  cupboards. 
The  two  were  very  companionable,  and  Anna  seemed  contented  to  be  alone  a  good 
deal  with  Mrs.  Clark.  She  did  excellent  work  in  school.  The  teacher  thought 
her  unusually  bright  and  very  spirited.     When  Anna  had  been  there  nearly  two 

ri2oi 


years  Mrs.  Clark's  health  failed  seriously,  and  she  found  it  hard  to  keep  track  of 
what  Anna  was  doing.  Her  eyesight  grew  steadily  dimmer.  Anna  was  left  to 
her  own  resources.  She  developed  the  habit  of  stealing  small  sums  from  Mrs. 
Clark's  purse,  and  became  so  much  of  a  tomboy  that  she  spent  most  of  her  time 
on  the  street  playing  with  the  boys.  She  was  very  untidy,  and  shirked  all  possible 
housework.  Through  the  five  or  six  months  that  followed  the  situation  became 
worse;  it  was  harder  for  Mrs.  Clark  to  look  after  the  house  and  Anna,  she  became 
querulous  and  complaining  and  out  of  sympathy  with  the  child,  and  Anna  grew 
harder  to  control.  She  continued  to  take  small  amounts  of  money  and  to  lie 
about  it.  She  was  heedless  and  irresponsible,  showing  Uttle  consideration  for  her 
foster  mother.  The  various  references  consulted,  who  were  in  close  touch  with  the 
situation,  felt,  however,  that  Anna  was  on  the  whole  happy  there,  and  that  there 
was  no  risk  in  the  small  amount  of  supervision  which  she  got.  She  was  always  in 
early  in  the  evening,  and  there  seemed  no  question  of  anything  but  tomboyishness 
in  her  playing  with  boys.  The  visitors  felt  that  as  Mrs.  Clark  grew  feebler  and 
less  able  to  deal  with  Anna  she  became  nagging,  and  that  it  was  only  a  matter  of  a 
few  months  before  Arma  should  leave,  for  Mrs.  Clark's  sake  and  her  own.  Finally, 
in  August,  1918,  Anna  was  removed  from  Mrs.  Clark's  home. 

At  the  office  she  was  given  a  medical  examination,  which  showed  a  normal 
condition  of  health,  and  a  mental  examination.  The  psychologist  said  of  her: 
InteUigence  a  little  above  the  average  .  .  .  common  sense  higher  than 
average.  Girl  learns  quickly  and  has  in  general  an  alert  and  retentive  mind, 
capable  of  much  further  development. 

Second  Placement. — The  following  day  Anna  was  taken  by  the  visitor  who  had 
been  supervising  her  to  a  home  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  The  family 
consisted  of  a  couple  of  about  thirty-five,  and  one  Uttle  girl  of  three.  Mr.  Staple- 
ton  was  a  business  man  and  a  college  man;  Mrs.  Stapleton  had  been  a  stenog- 
rapher before  her  marriage.  Their  house  was  comfortable  and  modern  and  in  a 
good  part  of  town.  They  owned  a  car.  It  was  their  intention  to  make  Anna  feel 
herself  a  member  of  the  family.  She  was  to  take  her  breakfast  and  luncheon  with 
them,  but  her  dinner  in  the  kitchen  with  the  httle  girl.  Her  work  was  to  be  the 
usual  helping  with  the  dishes  and  the  housework.  Mrs.  Stapleton  seemed 
genuinely  interested  in  making  the  girl  contented  and  at  home  and  thoroughly 
capable  of  training  her. 

At  the  first  visit,  made  not  quite  two  months  later,  Mrs.  Stapleton  was  full  of 
complaints.  Anna  had  no  sense  of  responsibiUty,  she  forgot  to  lock  doors  and 
rinse  dish  towels,  she  left  the  windows  and  the  dishes  dirty,  and  she  dropped  the 
baby  overboard  when  the  family  were  on  a  fishing  trip.  She  would  never  change 
her  clothes  nor  mend  them  nor  take  a  bath  unless  Mrs.  Stapleton  drove  her  to  it. 
The  only  good  thing  that  they  had  to  say  of  her  was  that  her  school  work  was 
excellent.  The  Stapletons  told  the  visitor  that  they  felt  sympathetic  with  Anna, 
and  that  they  had  been  very  patient  with  her.  However,  they  admitted  to  the 
visitor  that  she  was  "as  hard  to  understand  as  a  German,"  and  that  they  had 
given  her  no  spending  money  in  the  two  months  because  "she  had  not  deserved 
it."  Mrs.  Stapleton  said  that  Anna  had  no  sense  of  gratitude,  and  Mr.  Stapleton 
said  that  she  was  "the  queerest  child"  that  he  had  ever  known  and  that  there  was 
no  getting  at  her  at  all.  The  visitor  could  get  very  little  from  Anna  herself  except 
that  she  hated  mending.  She  listened  with  a  "queer,  half-defiant  smile."  She 
admitted  that  it  was  wrong  to  lie,  but  could  not  t«ll  why  she  did  it. 

[  121  1 


Two  months  later  the  same  visitor  called  again.  Mrs.  Stapleton  had  been  ill 
with  influenza  and  Anna  had  done  very  well,  washing  the  dishes  and  taking  care 
of  the  baby.  Her  general  work,  however,  was  as  slipshod  as  ever.  She  had  taken 
some  money  too,  her  first  slip  since  she  had  come.  She  ate  things  from  the  pantry 
on  the  sly.  One  of  the  neighbors  told  Mrs.  Stapleton  that  it  "would  be  better 
if  she  shipped  Anna  instead  of  being  so  good  to  her."  Mrs.  Stapleton  herself 
feels  that  it  would  be  more  efficacious  a  remedy,  but  she  feels  sorry  for  Anna  be- 
cause she  has  no  mother.  Mr.  Stapleton  has  talked  to  Anna  and  told  her  he  is 
under  no  obhgation  to  keep  her  if  she  does  not  behave,  but  that  he  will  keep  her 
if  she  only  becomes  more  dependable.  He  feels  now  he  will  not  want  her  on  his 
hands  when  she  is  two  or  three  years  older,  because  he  does  not  know  what  she 
will  do.  Anna  has  written  her  former  foster  mother  saying  that  she  is  unhappy 
with  the  Stapletons  and  that  she  does  not  get  enough  to  eat.  Anna  has  told  Mrs. 
Stapleton  that  when  she  was  with  Mrs.  Clark  she  knew  several  girls  who  thought 
nothing  of  taking  money  to  go  to  picture  shows  and,  of  course,  they  had  to  invent 
stories  to  explain  the  disappearance  of  the  money.  .  .  .  "Anna  is  the  sort  of 
girl  whom  it  is  almost  impossible  to  reach." 

Along  with  these  bad  reports  from  the  family  came  excellent  reports  from  the 
school.  Her  teacher  wrote  that  "Anna  is  doing  very  satisfactory  work  in  her 
grade  and  has  adjusted  herself  unusually  well  in  her  new  school.  We  are  glad  to 
have  her  in  our  school." 

Removal. — Finally,  in  February,  1919,  the  Stapletons  insisted  that  Anna  be 
removed  at  once.  The  last  straw  had  been  her  leaving  the  little  girl  alone  in  the 
house  one  evening.  She  had  taken  more  money.  .  .  .  She  told  the  girls  at 
school  that  Mrs.  Stapleton  was  her  mother,  and  that  Virginia  was  her  half-sister, 
thus  explaining  the  difference  in  names.  She  has  told  others  that  she  is  Mrs. 
Stapleton's  niece  and  is  boarding  there.  She  seems  ashamed  of  having  to  work, 
and  Mrs.  Stapleton  feels  that  the  difference  between  their  home  and  that  of  Mrs. 
Clark  was  not  explained  to  her.  She  thinks  that  Anna  expected  to  be  in  the  same 
position  with  them  as  in  the  former  home. 

Boarding  Care. — On  her  return  to  the  office  Anna  was  again  examined.  The 
doctor  found  her  heart  slow  and  recommended  light  work  and  little  exercise. 
She  was  placed  in  a  temporary  boarding  home.  The  family  took  a  great  Uking 
to  her  and  she  to  them.  They  found  her  very  nice  with  the  younger  children, 
reliable  about  money,  and  fairly  neat  about  her  person.  The  boarding  mother 
thought  that  Anna  had  been  lonely  at  the  Stapletons.  Anna  herself  showed 
improvement  in  manner  and  in  appearance.  She  said  she  had  not  told  a  lie  nor 
taken  money  since  she  left  the  Stapletons,  and  that  she  did  not  intend  to  do  so 
any  more.  She  agreed  with  the  agent  that  it  was  very  foolish  to  do  things  that 
were  wrong  and  that  she  was  much  happier  when  she  had  nothing  to  conceal. 

About  this  time  Anna  was  examined  by  a  psychiatrist,  who  considered  her 
difficulties  due  to  a  temporary  maladjustment  and  advised  not  pushing  her  in 
school.     He  recommended  leaving  her  where  she  was  happy. 

Within  a  month  the  boarding  mother  had  a  number  of  complaints  to  make. 
Anna  was  careless  and  troublesome.  She  did  her  small  share  of  the  housework 
carelessly.  Matters  came  to  a  chmax  when  Anna  induced  a  younger  girl  boarding 
in  the  same  family  to  steal  a  large  and  varied  assortment  of  things  with  her.  The 
boarding  mother  gave  her  up  after  six  months,  saying  that  she  had  absolutely 
failed  with  her.    Anna  had  been  deteriorating  lately,  taking  more  money  and 

[122] 


lying  about  it  and  showing  complete  indifference  to  reproof.  She  showed  no 
emotion  on  leaving.  When  Anna  went  to  the  next  boarding  home  she  was  told 
that  the  boarding  mother  would  not  be  told  of  her  faults  on  condition  that  she 
make  a  resolute  effort  to  overcome  them. 

Very  much  the  same  thing  happened  in  the  second  boarding  home;  Anna  began 
well  and  then  fell  back  into  her  faults.  Here,  however,  the  situation  became  com- 
plicated by  the  discovery  of  a  number  of  questionable  things  in  the  boarding 
home.  The  visitor  who  had  supervised  Anna  from  the  time  that  she  went  to  the 
Stapletons  had  a  talk  with  her  about  conditions  in  her  boarding  home  and  was 
impressed  by  her  fair  mindedness  and  good  sense  and  frankness  in  discussing  the 
matter.  It  was  decided  that  she  must  be  removed  and  another  home  was  found 
for  her.  The  visitor  then  took  Anna  out  to  luncheon  and  had  a  long  talk  with  her, 
telling  her  about  the  new  home  and  leaving  it  to  her  to  say  what  she  would  prefer 
to  do.  Anna  was  undoubtedly  attached  to  her  boarding  mother  in  spite  of  the 
obvious  defects  of  the  home  and  had  very  much  dreaded  leaving  her.  She  ob- 
jected too  to  leaving  at  that  time,  just  before  the  end  of  the  first  term  of  school, 
as  she  would  lose  her  promotion.  It  was  arranged,  therefore,  to  leave  her  there 
till  the  first  of  the  year,  at  which  time  Anna  said  she  would  be  glad  to  go  to  the 
other  family.  Anna  said  that  she  appreciated  the  offer  and  would  be  glad  to 
accept  it.  She  had  been  afraid  that  it  was  a  working  home,  like  the  Stapletons, 
and  she  did  not  want  to  go  to  such  a  place  again.  Agent  told  Anna  that  this  was 
a  home  of  high  standards  and  ideals,  and  that  Anna  would  be  expected  to  Uve  up 
to  them.  Anna  told  the  agent  that  her  boarding  mother  had  been  trying  to 
persuade  here  to  stay,  but  that  she  had  told  her  that  she  would  make  no  promises 
until  she  heard  about  the  new  home. 

Third  Placement. — The  home  to  which  she  then  went  seems  in  some  ways  to 
contradict  what  has  previously  been  said  about  the  wisdom  of  placing  these  girls 
in  homes  too  remote  from  them  socially  and  intellectually.  This  household  was 
superior  in  those  ways  to  the  Stapletons'  home,  where  Anna  had  failed  so  lament- 
ably. But  the  answer  to  the  question  of  why  it  has  succeeded  where  the  other 
failed  must  he  in  the  difference  of  attitude  on  the  part  of  the  family.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Long  and  their  three  grown  children  who  were  Uving  at  home  were  all 
apparently  genuinely  anxious  to  do  something  to  help  a  young  girl.  It  is  perhaps 
significant  of  their  feehng  that  their  interest  was  aroused  by  a  special  appeal  in  a 
newspaper  for  help  for  this  particular  girl,  one  in  a  group  of  thirty  others.  Cer- 
tainly their  interest  seemed  straightforward  and  warm.  The  work  that  Anna 
could  do  was  of  secondary  importance.  Mrs.  Long  herself,  with  the  help  of  her 
two  daughters,  took  care  of  the  large  house  and  did  the  cooking.  One  of  the 
daughters  taught  in  a  nearby  school  and  one  was  in  a  business  school.  The  son 
of  twenty-five  was  at  home  for  the  winter,  but  was  to  be  married  soon.  The 
house  was  big  and  handsomely  furnished  and  had  a  large  garden.  Everything 
was  in  good  taste  and  immaculately  clean.  Mr.  Long  was  in  business,  and  though 
the  family  were  only  moderately  well  off,  one  daughter  had  been  through  college, 
one  was  studying  for  an  advanced  degree  in  history,  and  the  son  had  business 
training.  Mrs.  Long  planned  to  teach  Anna  sewing  and  housework  and  cooking, 
as  she  had  her  own  daughters,  and  was  looking  forward  with  pleasure  to  having  a 
younger  person  in  the  house  again. 

Anna  went  there  in  January,  1920,  when  she  was  fifteen  and  a  half.  She  was 
taken  there  by  the  same  visitor.     Mrs.  Long  came  to  the  door.     .    .     .    She 

[  123  ] 


greeted  Anna  very  nicely,  put  her  arms  around  her  and  kissed  her,  and  made  her 
feel  at  home.  .  .  .  She  said  that  she  knew  that  she  would  like  Anna,  and  she 
hoped  she  would  be  happy  with  them.  Anna  was  quite  responsive.  She  said, 
as  she  looked  around  her  room,  that  she  could  not  beUeve  that  this  home  was  to 
be  hers,  and  that  she  was  going  to  do  her  best.  Mr.  Long  came  in  and  greeted 
Anna  very  cordially,  caUing  her  Miss  Anna.  The  son  and  daughter  also  came 
in,  and  agent  thought  no  one  could  have  greeted  Anna  more  cordially. 

The  visitor  called  a  few  weeks  later  and  found  Mrs.  Long  very  cordial  and  very 
much  pleased  with  Anna.  .  .  .  She  admits  that  Anna  has  her  faults,  but 
feels  that  those  are  natural  in  a  young  girl.  Mrs.  Long  thinks  that  she  is  an  ex- 
ceptionally sensitive  girl.  Mrs.  Long  says  that  because  of  her  having  been  ill 
with  a  cold  they  had  spoiled  her  a  Uttle.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  her  to  have  some  one 
young  again  to  fuss  over.  She  feels  that  Anna  needs  an  extra  bit  of  mothering 
to  make  up  for  the  rather  hard  life  she  has  had.  Anna  responds  very  sweetly 
to  the  interest  they  take  in  her,  and  is  apparently  deUghted  with  the  large  family. 
They  are  a  jolly  crowd,  and  Anna  can  hardly  wait  until  they  come  home  at  night. 
They  have  had  her  do  the  dishes  once  or  twice  in  the  evening,  and  she  was  so  long 
at  it  that  they  teased  her  about  it.  They  consider  her  very  bright  and  rather 
witty.  She  reads  voraciously,  and  they  have  given  her  very  sensible  standard 
books.  Anna  came  in  with  the  news  that  she  had  been  promoted  to  8A,  and  says 
that  she  wants  to  go  through  high  school  and  finish  with  a  commercial  course. 
Anna  certainly  looked  well  and  happy. 

At  the  next  visit,  some  months  later,  Mrs.  Long  had  an  excellent  report  to 
give.  Anna  had  improved  physically  very  noticeably,  although  she  tired  easily. 
Mrs.  Long  was  going  to  arrange  for  more  outdoor  exercise  and  later  on  a  gym- 
nasium course.  Her  only  work  is  to  make  her  bed  and  to  help  with  the  dishes  at 
night.  They  had  never  found  her  untruthful  nor  dishonest;  in  fact,  she  had 
shown  unusual  care  in  returning  pieces  of  money  which  she  had  found  about  the 
house.  She  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor  and  they  all  enjoyed  her.  The  teacher 
reported  that  she  was  doing  excellent  work  and  was  very  companionable  with  the 
other  children.  She  was  the  only  one  in  her  class  who  had  no  deficiencies  for  the 
semester.  Anna  said  that  she  had  never  been  happier,  and  that  the  Longs  were  a 
wonderful  family.  She  liked  the  school  and  her  companions  and  had  a  wonderful 
time  at  home.  She  seemed  perfectly  satisfied,  and  was  beginning  to  be  a  credit 
to  herself. 


As  one  reviews  this  case,  certain  salient  features  appear.  First,  that 
a  girl  of  Anna's  type  needs  a  special  sort  of  home  and  must  feel  a  cer- 
tain congeniality  if  she  is  to  make  good.  Second,  that  this  sense  of 
being  at  home  depends  for  her  on  the  attitude  of  the  family  toward 
her.  For  instance,  she  was  and  still  is  really  fond  of  Mrs.  Clark,  who 
took  her  in  on  a  simple  and  natural  footing.  At  the  Stapletons  she 
failed  undoubtedly  because  she  realized  that  their  interest  in  her  was 
primarily  a  selfish  one.  Mr.  Stapleton's  statement  to  her  that  he  was 
"under  no  obligation  to  keep  her"  and  Mrs.  Stapleton's  remark  to 

[124  1 


the  visitor  that  Anna  was  "harder  to  understand  than  a  German"  are 
sufficient  indications  of  their  point  of  view,  a  point  of  view  which  a 
girl  as  keen  as  Anna  could  hardly  miss.  Anna's  fibs  at  school  about  her 
relationship  to  the  Stapletons  were  undoubtedly  an  indirect  attempt 
to  make  herself  feel  one  of  the  family  and  to  be  thought  so  by  the 
neighbors.  At  the  Longs,  where  she  is  thoroughly  one  of  the  family 
and  not  a  negligible  one  at  that,  she  responds  with  all  her  powers  of 
development.  In  other  words,  if  she  feels  the  atmosphere  warm  and 
human,  she  will  do  her  utmost  and  will  rise  to  meet  its  demands;  but 
if  it  be  over-critical  and  unsympathetic,  she  will  relax  into  her  worst 
faults.  She  is  a  sharply  defined  example  of  the  girl  who  will  rise  to  a 
situation  if  it  appeals  to  her,  but  who  will  be  utterly  indifferent  if  she 
feels  the  absence  of  a  personal  appeal.  This  the  Stapletons  either 
could  not  or  would  not  see. 

Another  interesting  feature  is  her  good  school  work,  which  runs  Uke 
a  clearly  marked  thread  through  the  confused  pattern  of  her  life.  She 
seems  always  to  have  maintained  her  ambition  and  her  pride  in  that, 
which  is  a  good  index  of  her  possibilities.  It  is  worth  pointing  out  that 
her  transfer  to  the  Long  home,  which  it  was  important  to  make  as 
quickly  as  possible,  was  postponed  to  allow  her  to  finish  out  her  term 
at  school. 

It  may  be  noted  too  that  Anna  was  consulted  about  this  move,  and 
that  in  consequence  she  went  to  the  Long  home  with  a  consciousness 
of  doing  so  voluntarily  and  of  the  friendliness  of  the  office.  The  value 
of  feeling  that  she  had  made  her  own  choice  can  hardly  be  exaggerated. 

That  the  Long  home  was  not  a  "working  home"  is,  of  course,  an 
important  point.  But  here  the  difference  is  one  not  of  degree,  but 
of  quality.  Undoubtedly  Anna  would  be  willing  to  do  twice  the  work 
at  the  Longs'  that  she  would  at  the  Stapletons';  because  she  feels 
that  the  interest  of  the  Longs  is  not  in  what  she  can  do,  but  in  who 
and  what  she  is  as  a  personality.  That  is  the  answer  undoubtedly  to 
many  a  problem  with  the  girls  of  this  difficult  age.  That  a  home  of 
the  type  of  the  Longs'  is  uncommon  is  only  too  true.  It  has  that 
most  valuable  of  all  qualities  in  this  situation — a  sense  of  the  impor- 
tance of  the  girl's  personality  and  a  respect  for  it. 

[125] 


Second  Case. — The  need  of  close  supervision  and  the  difficulties 
which  may  be  experienced  in  dealing  even  with  an  intelligent  and 
supposedly  sympathetic  foster  family  are  shown  in  the  case  which 
follows.  After  the  children  have  been  transferred  to  their  second 
home,  an  equal  amount  of  supervision  is  called  for,  but  from  a  different 
point  of  view. 

First  Placement. — Robert  and  Henry  Hale,  two  brothers  of  five  and  ten,  were 
first  placed  by  the  Association  in  June,  1919.  They  were  unusually  devoted  to 
each  other,  and  the  Association  had  refused  several  homes  to  which  they  might 
have  gone  separately,  feeUng  that  this  was  a  case  in  which  the  separation  would  be 
not  only  painful  but  harmful.  The  family  who  took  them  were  childless — 
people  in  their  late  forties.  Mr.  Stevens  was  an  architect,  a  rather  fastidious 
and  reticent  person.  His  wife  had  been  a  teacher  for  many  years,  and  had  re- 
tained a  somewhat  dictatorial  manner.  It  was  felt  at  the  ofiice  that  they  were 
perhaps  too  inflexible  to  adapt  themselves  in  middle  age  to  the  entrance  of  chil- 
dren into  their  home,  that  their  ideas  were  set,  and  that  they  might  be  difficult 
people  to  advise.  They  were  in  moderate  circumstances,  were  kindly  and  sub- 
stantial, and  genuinely  interested  in  the  project.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  they 
were  wiUing  to  take  two  brothers  it  was  decided  to  use  the  home,  although  the 
decision  was  made  with  some  misgivings.  They  called  at  the  office  to  see  Robert 
and  Henry,  and  seemed  very  much  attracted  to  them.  When  they  had  decided 
to  take  them  it  was  explained  very  carefully  to  the  Stevens  that  the  older  boy, 
Henry,  was  suspicious  of  people,  lacking  in  self-confidence,  and  unhappy  over 
having  been  removed  from  his  family.  The  strong  affection  existing  between  the 
two  boys  was  emphasized.  They  were  warned  that  it  would  undoubtedly  take 
tact  and  patience  to  win  the  confidence  and  affection  of  Henry.  They  were  urged 
to  go  to  see  the  boys  at  their  boarding  home  or  to  have  the  boys  spend  a  day  now 
and  again  with  them  before  the  placement  was  finally  made.  It  was  felt  that  the 
transition  might  be  very  difficult  for  Henry  in  his  suspicious  state  of  mind,  and 
that  a  gradual  ripening  of  his  acquaintance  with  the  Stevens  would  make  the 
transition  easier  from  one  home  to  another.  The  Stevens  failed  to  avail  them- 
selves to  any  extent  of  the  opportunity  of  getting  to  know  the  boys  beforehand. 

Four  Months  After  Placement. — Robert  was  eating  breakfast  when  the  agent 
arrived  at  11.30.  Mrs.  Stevens  explained  that  she  allowed  him  to  get  up  late 
because  he  stayed  up  evenings  to  be  with  his  daddy.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Stevens  said 
that  she  had  not  been  ill,  but  she  was  getting  nervous.  .  .  .  Robert  has  none 
but  sweet  ways  and  is  a  constant  delight.  Henry,  on  the  other  hand,  has  de- 
veloped into  a  problem  for  the  Stevens,  because  he  has  sullen  moods,  is  not  help- 
ful ..  .  won't  do  his  homework,  and  is  backward  in  his  studies.  He  talks 
about  his  own  mother  in  a  depressing  way  before  Robert.  Mrs.  Stevens  feels 
that  he  is  a  backward  boy,  and  will  be  a  drag  on  Robert  always.  They  have 
concluded  .  .  .  that  they  could  do  more  for  one  boy  than  for  two.  Agent 
did  not  feel  from  Mrs.  Stevens'  account  of  Henry's  wrongdoings  and  shortcomings 
that  he  is  very  different  from  other  boys  of  his  age.  It  is  obvious  that  there  is 
decided  feeling  on  the  part  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  against  him,  probably  be- 
cause he  is  too  much  of  a  handful  with  all  the  other  things  that  Mrs.  Stevens  has 

[126  1 


to  do,  and  because  of  her  age  and  disposition.  Agent  was  appalled  at  the  rigidity 
and  amount  of  discipline  meted  out  to  Robert.  .  .  .  Agent  wondered  if  such 
a  live  youngster  would  continue  to  be  docile  in  the  face  of  so  many  dogmatic 
commands.  .  .  .  Agent  inquiried  in  regard  to  Mr.  Stevens'  attitude  toward 
the  boys  and  the  boys'  toward  him.  Mrs.  Stevens  said  he  was  fond  of  both — 
especially  of  the  Uttle  fellow,  as  the  latter  is  of  him.  .  .  .  Mr.  Stevens  is 
patient  with  Henry  and  tries  to  reason  things  out  with  him.  .  .  .  He  was 
disappointed  because  the  boy  had  not  taken  to  books.  .  .  .  Agent  thought 
that  Mrs.  Stevens  was  set  in  her  ways  and  might  not  be  able  to  cope  with  even 
normal  problems  connected  with  a  boy.  In  Henry's  case  there  has  been  the 
added  drawback  of  being  contrasted  with  his  brother,  and  so  there  is  no  love  as  an 
incentive  to  try  and  understand  him.  .  .  .  Agent  talked  with  Mrs.  Stevens 
a  long  time.  .  .  and  told  her  she  felt  there  was  nothing  unusual  the  matter 
with  Henry,  but  that  without  love  and  firmness  it  would  not  be  possible  to  do  much 
with  him.  She  also  mentioned  that  the  office  had  been  surprised  at  Mr.  Stevens' 
statement  that  it  could  not  hurt  boys  to  be  separated.  For  this  reason  it  was 
possible  that  the  office  might  consider  it  advisable  to  remove  both  boys.  Agent 
felt  that  the  possibiUty  of  losing  Robert  and  also  a  new  awareness  that  she  had  not 
been  quite  fair  to  Henry  might  change  Mrs.  Stevens'  attitude.  .  .  Agent 
went  to  the  school  Henry  is  attending.  .  .  .  Agent  saw  both  the  teachers 
he  has  had  this  year,  the  one  in  the  third  grade  saying  that  he  did  such  good 
work  that  she  thought  he  should  be  put  ahead  a  class.  His  present  teacher  said 
that  Henry  was  doing  very  poor  work,  particularly  in  arithmetic,  and  she  felt 
it  was  because  he  was  lazy.  Agent  doubted  if  she  were  a  first-class  teacher. 
.  .  .  Agent  walked  home  with  Henry,  a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  and  tried  to 
make  him  understand  Mrs.  Stevens'  difficulties  and  responsibilities.  .  .  . 
Henry  was  perfectly  polite  and  agreed  to  everything  agent  said.  .  .  .  Agent 
had  the  disappointed  feeKng  that  the  talk  had  rolled  off  his  mind  .  .  .  but 
hked  him  just  the  same  and  felt  that  what  he  needs  is  stiff  disciphne — stiff er  than 
Mrs.  Stevens  gives — ^backed  up  by  real  affection. 

Office  Visit.— Dec.  10,  '19.  Mr.  Stevens  called  at  the  office.  ...  He 
said  he  was  quite  sure  that  if  we  knew  the  children  as  he  and  Mrs.  Stevens  knew 
them  we  would  not  be  wiUing  to  keep  them  together  and  would  not  sacrifice  one 
child  for  the  other.  ...  He  said  the  children  cared  nothing  for  each  other, 
and  that  Robert  was  superior  in  every  way  to  Henry.  He  said  that  Henry  was 
everything  that  was  undesirable,  and  that  he  was  going  to  tm*n  out  a  very  bad 
boy,  and  unless  some  one  took  him  who  was  very  firm  and  had  nothing  to  do  but 
to  look  after  him  he  would  be  better  in  an  institution.  .  .  .  Mr.  Stevens 
seemed  to  think  that  he  knew  a  great  deal  about  the  boys,  but  was  unwiUing  to 
give  facts  to  agent  unless  she  would  promise  him  a  reconsideration  of  our  decision 
not  to  separate  the  boys.  ...  He  said  that  we  did  not  know  the  boys  at  all, 
and  that  they  were  in  no  way  like  brothers  and  he  did  not  see  any  sense  in  keeping 
them  together. 

Removal. — The  boys  were  later  removed,  with  the  explanation  to  Henry  that 
the  Stevens  could  not  keep  them  both  and  that  the  office  did  not  wish  to  separate 
them.  Henry  seemed  much  reheved  at  knowing  that  he  was  to  remain  with  his 
brother.    That  same  day  they  went  to  a  visiting  home. 

Second  Placement. — The  second  family,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis,  had  only  one 
child,  a  girl  of  fifteen.    They  were  cultured  people,  New  Englanders,  in  moderate 

[127  1 


circumstances,  and  wished  to  do  something  for  homeless  children  in  memory  of  a 
daughter  who  had  died  a  year  ago.  They  had  had  no  experience  with  boys. 
Several  visits  and  telephone  conversations  ensued.  Three  weeks  later  a  visit 
was  made  by  the  visitor  who  had  seen  the  boys  at  the  Stevens'. 

Visit. — Jan.  14,  '20.  Mrs.  Curtis  struck  agent  as  a  simple,  plain,  straight- 
forward kind  of  woman,  with  much  sympathy,  possibly  a  little  too  sentimental. 
She  was  intensely  interested  in  having  Henry  advance  rapidly  in  school  and  catch 
up  with  his  grade,  was  tutoring  him  at  home,  and  possibly  forcing  him  too  fast. 
She  found  him  untruthful  and  obstinate  and  inclined  to  be  lazy.  In  spite  of  this 
she  was  genuinely  interested  in  helping  him  and  not  incUned  to  be  prejudiced 
against  him  because  of  faults.  Robert  was  giving  no  special  concern;  they  were 
all  very  fond  of  him  already.  But  it  was  Henry  on  whom  she  was  concentrating. 
She  was  much  touched  by  Henry's  intense  desire  to  stay  with  them,  and  very 
honest  with  him  about  it,  not  promising  him  anything  final  but  assuring  him  that 
he  would  not  be  set  adrift. 

Visit. — Mar.  30,  '20.  Mrs.  Curtis  seems  very  much  encouraged  about  the 
two  boys,  and  said  that  during  the  last  two  weeks  she  had  felt  that  things  were 
really  improving.  .  .  .  Henry  has  passed  the  work  for  the  grade  ahead,  and 
on  his  last  report  had  two  A's,  a  B  plus,  and  two  B's.  .  .  .  Henry  is  very 
much  pleased  with  his  progress  in  school.  He  was  doing  his  afternoon  study 
when  agent  called,  as  he  does  two  hours'  work  every  afternoon  during  the  holi- 
days. Mrs.  Curtis  says  that  she  is  well  aware  of  Henry's  yellow  streaks,  but  that 
she  is  not  hopeless  about  training  him.  She  said  Henry  had  told  her  that  his 
boarding  mother  told  him  he  would  never  amount  to  anything  because  of  the  kind 
of  father  he  had.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Curtis  is  doing  her  best  to  get  this  idea  out  of 
Henry's  head.  She  says  that  he  is  much  inclined  to  be  grouchy  ...  al- 
though he  is  improving.  She  feels  that  he  has  lazy  tendencies  which  must  be 
discouraged,  and  requires  him  to  work  Saturday  mornings.  It  is  his  job  to  clean 
the  front  porch  and  the  yard.  Henry  rebels  against  this,  as  all  the  other  boys 
come  round  urging  him  to  play.  Mrs.  Curtis,  however,  insists  on  this,  and  agent 
does  not  feel  that  it  is  too  severe  a  task.  .  .  .  Mr.  Curtis  is  inclined  to  be 
somewhat  irritated  at  the  boys  at  various  times,  as  he  is  not  wholly  in  sympathy 
with  Mrs.  Curtis's  plan.  Mrs.  Curtis  was  very  frank  in  speaking  of  this  to 
agent.  .  .  .  She  says  that  while  Mr.  Curtis  would  not  admit  that  he  was  glad 
to  have  the  boys  there,  he  is  intensely  interested  in  what  they  do  and  she  feels 
very  definitely  that  he  is  better  off  with  the  boys  in  the  house  than  without  them. 
.  .  .  Mrs.  Curtis  is  beginning  to  feel  that  she  can  trust  Henry  a  Uttle  more 
with  money.  ...  As  she  feels  that  she  can  trust  them  more  she  will  give 
them  a  small  definite  allowance.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Curtis  says  that  Henry  responds 
to  anything  that  is  a  httle  off  color.  In  the  movies  he  is  interested  in  crime,  and 
she  is  a  Uttle  worried  about  this.  She  says  that  while  she  does  not  talk  to  him 
directly  about  these  things,  they  are  often  made  the  subjects  of  conversation  at 
the  table  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  out  the  results  of  wrong  conduct.  .  .  . 
Mrs.  Curtis  is  thoroughly  awake  to  her  problem  with  these  boys,  and  she  is  abso- 
lutely conscientious  in  trying  to  do  the  best  she  can  for  them.  She  has  very  Uttle 
self-assurance  in  the  matter,  but  says  that  there  has  not  been  a  particle  of  doubt 
in  her  mind  since  the  boys  came  there  that  it  was  intended  for  those  boys  to  be 
there.  She  is  not  troubled,  therefore,  in  trying  to  make  up  her  mind  what  she 
ought  or  ought  not  to  do.    She  wants  to  have  the  boys  go  through  high  school. 

[128  1 


She  doubts  if  they  can  go  further  than  that.  She  said  that  she  had  made  her  will 
some  years  ago,  and  that  what  she  left  would  go  to  her  daughter,  but  she  had  been 
thinking  of  taking  out  a  policy  for  the  two  boys,  so  that  if  anything  happened  to 
her  their  education  would  be  assured.  .  .  .  She  is  beginning  to  feel  that 
during  the  last  two  weeks  Henry  really  has  some  affection  for  her.  On  more  than 
one  occasion  he  has  owned  up  when  he  had  Ued  or  taken  money  and  she  has  been 
extremely  happy  over  this.  Robert  is  very  devoted  to  Mrs.  Curtis  and  is  quite 
demonstrative.     This,  of  course,  pleases  her. 

Third  Case. — The  last  replacement  case  to  be  discussed  is  that  of  a 
girl  who  was  ten  at  the  time  of  her  first  placement,  and  who  was  twice 
replaced,  and  finally  adopted  in  her  third  foster  home. 

Child's  History. — Caroline  Turner  was  born  November,  1907.  She  was  the 
eldest  of  five  children,  whose  home  was  broken  up  by  the  Society  for  the  Preven- 
tion of  Cruelty  to  Children.  The  father,  one  of  eighteen  children,  drank  heavily, 
worked  seldom,  although  he  could  earn  good  wages  as  a  painter,  and  served  many 
jail  sentences  for  non-support  and  six  months  in  the  penitentiary  for  assault  on 
his  wife.  He  was  supposed  to  be  a  man  of  fair  mentahty,  and  originally  of  better 
character  than  his  wife,  but  through  dissipation  had  lost  whatever  stabiUty  he 
might  once  have  had.  He  showed  no  sense  of  responsibihty  whatever  for  his 
children.  The  mother  was  one  of  twelve  children,  was  weak-wiUed,  lacking  in 
moral  sense,  and  in  responsibihty  for  her  family,  drank  heavily,  was  immoral, 
and  had  served  a  reformatory  sentence.  She  was  incapable  of  any  work  other 
than  housework,  lost  positions  through  drink  and  the  bad  company  which  she 
kept,  and  could  not  be  influenced  to  a  better  way  of  living.  The  grandmother 
was  a  healthy  woman,  a  splendid  worker,  but  of  doubtful  reputation  and  Httle 
moral  sense.  The  family  were  always  associated  with  the  "bad  lot"  of  the 
town.  The  youngest  child  was  rumored  to  be  the  child  of  a  negro  in  whose  family 
the  mother  lived  for  a  time.  The  children  were  all,  except  Caroline,  in  poor 
condition  physically,  much  institutionalized,  and  apparently  retarded.  CaroUne 
seemed  more  promising  than  the  others.  She  was  attractive,  and  at  the  institu- 
tion was  much  Uked.  At  ten  she  was  in  the  second  grade  in  school.  She  was 
given  a  mental  test  before  she  was  placed  in  her  first  home  and  was  about  one  year 
retarded.  Her  physical  examination  showed  good  nutrition  and  normal  develop- 
ment, somewhat  enlarged  tonsils,  rather  large  abdomen,  and  shght  flat-foot. 

Following  is  a  summary  of  the  investigation  of  the  first  home  in 
which  Caroline  was  placed : 

Mrs.  McMillan  is  twenty-seven  years  old.  She  is  an  American  by  birth  but 
is  of  Italian  parentage.  She  is  a  rather  stout,  fresh-looking  woman,  with  promi- 
nent features  and  brown  hair.  She  is  a  very  ordinary  woman,  without  any  real 
refinement,  but  she  seems  pleasant  and  fairly  intelligent.  She  told  agent  that 
her  disposition  is  not  nearly  as  good  as  her  husband's. 

Captain  McMillan  is  a  man  thirty-four  years  old,  an  American  of  Scotch  and 
Enghsh  parentage.     He  is  of  average  height,  brown  hair  and  eyes.     He  impresses 

9  [  129  1 


one  much  more  favorably  than  Mrs.  McMillan.  He  is  more  intelligent  and  seems 
to  have  a  stronger  character. 

The  McMillans  have  never  had  any  children,  though  Mrs.  McMillan  knows 
of  no  reason  why.  Her  niece,  who  is  her  sister's  only  daughter,  has  stayed  with 
her  most  of  the  time  for  the  last  two  years  and  Mrs.  McMillan  has  clothed  her. 
Mrs.  McMillan  says  her  sister  is  very  unappreciative,  and  is  not  willing  to  let 
Mrs.  McMillan  have  the  child  when  she  grows  older,  so  Mrs.  McMillan  is  anxious 
to  adopt  one. 

The  McMillans  live  in  a  pleasant  though  plain  neighborhood.  Their  home 
was  immaculately  clean,  comfortably  furnished,  but  in  rather  poor  taste.  Their 
bedrooms  were  plainly  furnished,  well  ventilated,  and  very  clean.  The  room  in 
which  they  are  planning  to  have  the  little  girl  sleep  will  do  very  well.  The  house 
has  modern  plumbing  and  the  rooms  are  well  arranged. 

Captain  McMillan  receives  a  salary  of  $155  a  month.     He  is  captain  on  the 

tugboat ,  of  the Company.     He  has  held  this  position  for  a  number  of 

years.     Captain  McMillan  is  insured  for  $600  and  Mrs.  McMillan  for  $200. 

Mrs.  McMillan's  first  idea  was  to  take  a  Uttle  girl  between  the  ages  of  seven 
and  eleven  years  for  adoption.  When  agent  called,  she  found  Mrs.  McMillan's 
friends  had  been  persuading  her  to  take  a  much  younger  child,  so  that  it  was  with 
some  difficulty  that  agent  persuaded  her  to  take  a  child  over  six  years  of  age.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McMillan  are  not  very  particular  about  family  history  as  long  as  the 
child  is  normal.  They  are  rather  afraid  of  a  heredity  where  there  is  insanity  or 
feeble-mindedness.  They  would  want  a  child  who  is  healthy,  and  Mrs.  McMillan 
is  rather  anxious  to  have  a  child  whom  she  would  consider  good  looking.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McMillan  especially  want  an  affectionate  child.  They  say  their  niece, 
Ruth,  is  unresponsive,  and  she  has  been  a  disappointment  to  them. 

Mrs.  Watson  (a  reference)  made  a  favorable  impression  upon  agent.  She  is  a 
woman  of  more  refinement  than  Mrs.  McMillan,  whom  she  has  known  for  several 
years.  She  was  not  at  all  enthusiastic  in  speaking  of  her,  but  said  she  thought  it 
would  be  all  right  to  place  a  child  here,  and  in  a  good  many  ways  she  thought  it 
would  be  a  good  home.  Captain  McMillan  is  superior  to  his  wife  intellectually, 
and  a  man  who  reads  a  good  deal.  He  has  a  good  disposition  and  has  held  a  good 
position  for  a  long  time.  Mrs.  McMillan  is  not  motherly.  She  is  a  woman  who 
cares  a  good  deal  about  nice  clothes  and  spends  a  great  deal  of  time  on  the  piazza. 
She  does  not  care  at  all  for  reading,  but  she  is  usually  at  home  and  takes  good  care 
of  everything.  She  is  friendly  and  happy  natured,  and  so  she  is  generally  liked, 
but  she  has  not  much  depth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMillan  get  along  very  well  to- 
gether and  he  thinks  a  great  deal  of  his  wife.  Mrs.  McMillan  is  quick  tempered, 
but  her  anger  does  not  last.  Mrs.  McMillan's  little  nephew  stays  with  her  occa- 
sionally, and  Mrs.  McMillan  became  irritated  with  him  once  and  slapped  him  in 
the  face.  Mrs.  Watson  says,  however,  this  is  the  only  time  that  she  knew  of 
anything  of  the  kind  happening.  The  nephew  was  very  fond  of  Mrs.  McMillan, 
and  used  to  like  to  stay  with  her,  and  Mrs.  Watson  thinks  Mrs.  McMillan  took 
good  care  of  her  niece  Ruth,  who  is  eleven  years  old.  Ruth  is  an  unresponsive 
child,  but  Mrs.  Watson  thinks  she  likes  to  stay  with  Mrs.  McMillan.  Mrs. 
McMillan  would  not  be  inclined  to  sacrifice  herself  for  a  child — she  would  be  Ukely 
to  consider  herself  first.  Mrs.  Wat«on  does  not  think  there  is  any  question  that 
Mrs.  McMillan  will  treat  the  child  well,  only  she  might  not  be  as  sympathetic 

[130] 


toward  her  as  she  should  be.  Mrs.  Watson  has  a  high  opinion  of  Mr.  McMillan; 
says  he  is  a  man  of  good  habits  and  she  has  never  heard  of  his  drinking. 

The  other  two  references  approve  of  the  home,  but  are  not  discriminating 
people.  It  is  hard  to  get  satisfactory  information  about  this  home  because  the 
people  have  few  social  connections  and  Mrs.  Watson  was  the  only  reference  who 
was  especially  helpful.  The  other  two  seemed  so  inferior.  Agent  thinks,  how- 
ever, that  we  might  safely  try  the  home  for  a  little  girl  over  five  years  of  age. 
The  home  is  not  hard  to  reach,  and  could  be  pretty  carefully  supervised,  and  as  it 
is  difficult  to  get  homes  for  Uttle  girls  of  the  age  they  would  take,  it  seems  worth 
while  to  use  it.  Had  the  husband  been  inferior  to  Mrs.  McMillan  the  home  would 
not  seem  desirable,  but  he  is  evidently  a  man  of  good  character,  industrious,  and 
kind  in  his  home. 

Placement. — Oct.  18.  Mrs.  McMillan  took  CaroHne  home  with  her  after 
seeing  her  twice  at  the  office.  She  was  not  much  attracted  to  her  at  the  first 
interview,  but  liked  her  very  much  the  second  time.  She  agreed  to  have  Caro- 
line's teeth,  which  were  in  bad  condition,  attended  to  by  her  own  dentist,  preferr- 
ing this  to  bringing  the  child  into  New  York  for  treatment  by  the  agency's  dentist. 

Letter. — Nov.  2.  Mrs.  McMillan  wrote  that  she  wished  to  return  Carohne, 
giving  as  her  chief  reason  the  fact  that  the  child  was  too  old  and  knew  too  much 
about  her  own  family  and  circumstances. 

The  visitor  who  had  investigated  the  home  made  all  the  subsequent  visits. 

Visit. — Nov.  6.  Mrs.  McMillan  made  the  same  kind  of  impression  as  when  the 
investigation  was  made.  She  is  a  very  ordinary  woman,  who  is  inexperienced, 
lacking  in  common  sense,  and  not  sympathetic.  She  seems  to  be  anxious  to 
comply  with  our  rules,  and  not  to  be  keeping  anjdihing  back.  She  is  beginning  to 
appreciate  Caroline  since  every  one  in  the  neighborhood  likes  her  and  it  touched 
her  because  Caroline  cried  when  she  spoke  of  her  having  to  go  back  to  the  office. 
She  said  that  the  child  had  not  shown  any  affection  for  them,  and  she  had  not 
supposed  that  it  would  make  any  difference  to  her.  She  says  that  Carohne  seems 
ta  be  a  nice  child  in  every  way,  but  that  at  first  she  was  not  at  all  attracted  to  her. 
She  had  set  her  heart  on  a  younger  child.  Mrs.  McMillan  says  that  Captain 
McMillan  hkes  Carohne  very  much  and  thinks  that  they  would  make  a  great 
mistake  if  they  gave  her  up.  Carohne  is  obedient.  She  has  been  truthful,  and 
Mrs.  McMillan  does  not  doubt  her  honesty;  she  has  been  leaving  money  within 
easy  reach,  but  agent  told  her  that  she  thought  it  unwise  to  place  this  temptation 
before  the  child.  Carohne  has  been  entered  in  the  2B  grade  in  school.  The 
teacher  is  a  near  neighbor,  and  Mrs.  McMillan  asked  her  to  tell  her  if  there  is 
anything  about  Caroline  which  is  peculiar.  Mrs.  McMillan  wants  to  be  very 
particular  in  choosing  Carohne's  playmates,  and  does  not  want  her  to  play  with 
older  children.  Mrs.  McMillan  told  Carohne  when  she  brought  her  home  that 
she  was  her  own  child  and  that  she  had  placed  her  in  an  institution  when  she  was 
a  baby.  She  felt  that  this  simplified  things,  for  the  children  kept  questioning 
her  about  where  she  came  from.  Agent  told  Mrs.  McMillan  that  she  had  made  a 
great  mistake  in  telhng  Carohne  this,  and  that  she  would  have  to  explain  that  it 
was  not  so.  Carohne  looked  very  well.  Now  that  Mrs.  McMillan  thinks  that 
she  will  keep  her  after  all  she  has  bought  her  some  new  clothes.  Mrs.  McMillan 
did  not  think  it  was  necessary  to  take  her  to  the  dentist,  but  agent  reminded  her 
that  she  had  agreed  to  do  so  and  she  said  that  she  would.  Carohne  impressed 
agent  as  an  ordinary  child.     She  seems  healthy  and  happy  natured.     She  likes 

[131] 


her  home,  and  told  agent  that  she  wanted  to  stay  with  "her  own  mother."  The 
McMillans  have  given  her  roller  skates  and  have  evidently  been  kind  to  her. 
Agent  called  on  the  most  rehable  reference,  Mrs.  Watson.  She  says  that  the 
McMillans  seem  anxious  to  keep  Carohne  now  and  that  the  child  seems  perfectly 
happy  there.  Mr.  McMillan  makes  a  great  fuss  over  her — he  is  very  fond  of 
children.  She  repeated  to  agent  what  Mrs.  McMillan  had  told  Caroline  about  her 
being  their  own  child,  as  an  instance  of  Mrs.  McMillan's  lack  of  judgment. 

Visit. — Dec.  5.  Mrs.  McMillan  was  seen  at  home  and  Caroline  walked  home 
from  school  with  agent.  Mrs.  McMillan  is  beginning  to  resent  visits  a  little,  and 
does  not  like  to  have  suggestions  made.  The  house  always  looks  well,  for  Mrs. 
McMillan  is  a  particular  housekeeper.  Caroline's  room  was  very  neat.  Caro- 
hne has  rosy  cheeks  and  looks  very  well.  Her  expression  has  changed  a  good 
deal,  and  she  seems  particularly  happy.  Mrs.  McMillan  thinks  a  good  deal  of 
clothes,  and  places  too  much  emphasis  upon  them,  and  Carohne's  head  seems  a 
little  turned  by  it.  She  talked  about  all  her  new  clothes  and  the  things  that  she 
was  going  to  have  for  Christmas.  She  says  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMillan  are 
very  kind  to  her,  and  she  speaks  of  Mrs.  McMillan  as  if  she  were  proud  to  possess 
a  mother.  Everything  is  apparently  going  very  well  with  her.  Mrs.  McMillan 
says  that  they  do  not  want  to  give  Carohne  up  now  and  that  they  want  to  adopt 
her.  She  has  explained  to  Caroline  that  she  is  not  her  own  mother  but  she  has 
thought  that  after  they  legally  adopted  her  they  would  move  somewhere  else 
and  then  she  would  tell  Caroline  that  she  was  her  own  child.  Agent  told  her 
that  it  would  be  much  better  to  let  things  remain  as  they  are — that  it  would  con- 
fuse Caroline.  She  says  that  she  never  had  any  fault  to  find  with  Carohne,  only 
she  wanted  a  younger  child.  Caroline  is  obedient,  and  has  never  been  the  least 
bit  saucy  or  impudent.  She  talks  a  good  deal  about  her  own  family  and  has  told 
Mrs.  McMillan  things  which  shocked  her. 

Agent  saw  Mrs.  Watson,  the  reference,  who  says  that  Mrs.  McMillan  found 
out  about  agent's  previous  visit  and  was  a  httle  put  out.  Mrs.  Watson  says  that 
Mrs.  McMillan  never  speaks  affectionately  of  Carohne,  but  that  it  is  not  her  nature 
to  do  so.  The  child  seems  happy,  and  everything  seems  to  be  going  all  right, 
but  Mrs.  McMillan  lacked  judgment  in  many  things.  Agent  has  felt  that  Mrs. 
McMillan  would  be  ready  to  suspect  Carohne  of  wrongdoing,  but  as  she  grows 
fonder  of  Caroline  she  wiU  probably  not  be  looking  for  her  pecuUarities  as  she 
did  at  first. 

Letter. — Jan.  11.  Mrs.  McMillan  wrote  that  she  could  not  "take  to"  Caro- 
line and  asked  to  have  her  removed. 

Removal. — Jan.  15.  .  .  .  Mrs.  McMillan  says  that  she  has  been  dis- 
appointed in  a  good  many  ways.  She  magnifies  every  little  thing  and  has  been 
unable  to  get  the  child's  point  of  view.  She  is  selfish,  and  seems  to  have  no 
warmth  in  her  nature.  She  makes  no  allowances  for  children.  She  says  that 
Carohne  has  been  put  back  in  school  for  writing  notes  to  boys,  that  she  has  been 
untruthful  and  is  extremely  slow.  When  asked  for  details,  she  could  tell  of 
only  one  note.  Carohne  has  told  little  untruths  to  save  herself  trouble.  Mrs. 
McMillan  says  it  is  not  worth  while  beheving  anything  that  she  says  now.  She 
will  waste  time  dressing  herself  and  doing  the  dishes.  She  is  fond  of  playing  in 
the  water,  and  shocked  Mrs.  McMillan  by  telling  her  that  she  was  going  to  be  a 
"wash  lady"  when  she  grew  up.  Mrs.  McMillan  said  that  they  would  not  want 
to  keep  a  child  who  would  not  amount  to  something.     She  is  disappointed  be- 

[132  1 


cause  the  child  still  thinks  about  her  own  family,  and  when  she  is  dreamy  tells 
Mrs.  McMillan  that  she  is  thinking  about  her  brothers.  When  she  first  entered 
school  Mrs.  McMillan  wanted  her  to  call  herself  Caroline  McMillan,  and  wrote 
it  on  her  ruler,  and  she  did  not  like  it  when  Carohne  changed  the  name  to  Turner. 
She  expected  Caroline  to  drop  her  own  life  the  minute  she  arrived  and  to  be  her 
own  child.  Mrs.  McMillan  has  been  thoroughly  unreasonable  about  everything. 
.  .  .  Caroline  has  told  Mrs.  McMillan  that  she  would  not  mind  leaving  if  she 
did  not  have  to  go  back  to  the  institution.  She  did  not  show  any  regret  at  all, 
though  she  says  that  the  McMillans  have  been  kind  to  her.  Caroline  does  not 
seem  more  than  eight  years  old.  She  is  not  an  interesting  child  to  be  with.  She 
is  a  good-natured,  obedient  httle  girl,  she  does  not  seem  affectionate.  .  .  . 
Agent  talked  with  her  teacher,  a  very  pleasant,  intelUgent  young  woman.  She 
has  not  had  any  trouble  with  Caroline.  She  was  in  the  A  division  of  grade  2B 
and  has  done  average  work  and  is  younger  than  most  of  the  children  in  the  room . 
Caroline  is  a  nicer,  better  behaved  girl  than  the  others  and  always  well  dressed. 
The  teacher  was  indignant  to  think  that  Mrs.  McMillan  made  anything  of  the 
note  incident.  She  told  her  that  there  was  nothing  to  it.  She  thinks  that  Mrs. 
McMillan  has  been  very  unjust  and  has  the  impression  that  she  is  too  critical. 
She  believes  that  Mrs.  McMillan  thinks  a  good  deal  of  the  child.  She  says  that 
the  first  day  that  Carohne  came  to  school  Mrs.  McMillan  asked  her  to  let  her  know 
if  she  noticed  the  least  thing  to  criticize  in  the  child. 


It  may  be  asked  why  this  home  was  used  at  all.  It  wag,  to  be  sure, 
something  of  an  experimental  placement.  In  its  favor  it  may  be 
said  that  there  seemed  no  doubt  that  the  family  genuinely  wanted  a 
child  and  would  do  their  best  for  her,  according  to  their  lights.  The 
man  seemed  a  very  positive  asset  in  the  household.  Two  other  chil- 
dren had  been  happy  there.  Materially  speaking,  the  home  was  good 
in  a  simple  way.  Families  who  would  take  a  child  of  Caroline's  age 
were  hard  to  find  and  Carohne's  history,  and  what  was  known  about 
two  brothers  of  hers  in  the  care  of  the  Association,  would  not  have  led 
one  to  expect  the  excellent  progress  that  she  later  made.  Obviously, 
the  crux  of  the  situation  lay  in  Mrs.  McMillan's  character.  From 
experience  with  foster  mothers  not  unlike  her — shallow  and  self- 
centered — who  had  risen  adequately  to  the  demands  made  upon  them 
by  the  care  of  a  child,  the  Association  felt  that  there  was  a  good 
chance  of  Mrs.  McMillan's  rising  to  her  part.  Her  subsequent  poor 
judgment,  one  of  the  most  serious  failures,  was  not  revealed  until 
after  the  placement  had  been  made — as  is  so  often  the  case.  In  other 
words,  it  was  felt  that  only  a  trial  would  show  how  she  could  get  on 
with  a  child.    It  took  less  than  the  three  months  that  the  child  was 

[133  1 


there  to  demonstrate  that  Mrs.  McMillan  would  never  be  a  real  foster 
mother.  Her  self-centered  nature  was  incapable  of  the  flexibiHty 
and  generosity  needed.  Her  lack  of  sympathy  and  patience,  her  in- 
sistence on  unimportant  matters,  and  her  ignorance  of  important 
ones — and  not  least  her  asking  the  teacher  to  be  on  the  lookout  for 
things  amiss  in  the  child's  behavior — are  all  symptoms  of  a  tempera- 
ment unfitted  for  the  role  of  foster  mother.  However,  Caroline  was 
actually  improved  in  many  ways  by  her  stay  there;  she  lost  her  insti- 
tutionalism,  gained  physically,  and  learned  the  rudiments  of  decent 
family  life. 

Re-examinations. — Following  her  removal  Caroline  was  boarded  for  three  weeks, 
during  which  she  was  given  a  second  physical  examination  and  found  to  be  in 
good  condition.  She  was  given  a  mental  examination  also,  which  gave  her  an 
intelligence  quotient  of  90.  She  was  cooperative,  quick  in  her  replies,  and  friendly 
and  alert  in  her  attitude. 

Second  Home. — The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  second  home  in 
which  Caroline  was  placed — ^that  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Post. 

Mrs.  Post  is  a  handsome  woman,  about  thirty-two  years  of  age,  tall  and  large, 
with  a  fine  face  and  sweet  manners.  She  is  a  woman  of  a  good  deal  of  character. 
She  is  a  public  school  teacher.  Mr.  Post  is  a  fine-looking  young  man,  strong  and 
healthy,  with  a  splendid  physique  and  a  strong  face.  He  speaks  intelligently 
and  uses  very  good  English.  He  talks  better  than  his  wife.  He  seems  a  little 
inclined  to  question  the  amount  of  investigation,  and  said  that  he  supposed  that 
they  would  be  just  as  particular  in  looking  up  the  child  whom  they  were  to  take. 

Mr.  Post  is  employed  by  a  very  important  banking  firm,  that  of Co.,  and 

has  a  good  position.  Previous  to  this  he  was  for  eight  years  in  the  Government 
service.  He  started  in  his  present  firm  at  $75  a  month  and  has  had  three  raises 
since.  He  is  now  getting  $125  and  has  just  received  a  bonus  of  $20.  He  says 
that  he  has  never  been  out  of  work,  has  always  made  good  in  every  position,  and 
that  he  is  one  of  the  youngest  men  taken  into  this  important  banking  office.  He 
considers  it  quite  an  honor,  as  the  men  there  have  all  been  connected  with  the  firm 
for  thirty  or  more  years.  He  feels  that  they  are  giving  him  an  opportunity  for 
advancement  and  that  he  is  well  on  the  way  to  make  good.  Mr.  Post  was  adopted 
as  a  young  child  and  brought  up  on  a  southern  plantation  and  had  very  little 
regular  education.     He  preferred  to  start  out  entirely  on  his  own  responsibility 

rather  than  to  accept  money  from  his  foster  parents.     Mrs.  Post  comes  from , 

Ohio,  went  through  grammar  school  and  college,  and  has  been  connected  with  the 
Board  of  Education  for  five  years.     She  intends  to  keep  on  teaching. 

The  Posts  live  on  the  top  floor  of  a  two-family  house  in  a  better  class  neighbor- 
hood. The  rooms  are  furnished  in  good  taste  and  there  are  large  leather  arm- 
chairs about.  They  have  no  pictures  on  the  walls  and  very  few  books.  Mr. 
Post  is  not  very  fond  of  reading,  and  they  are  both  very  busy  people  and  do  not 

[134] 


have  much  leisure.     They  have  not  very  much  furniture,  but  everything  was  well 
chosen  and  showed  taste. 

Mrs.  Post  said  that  it  would  make  no  difference  to  her  if  she  had  a  child  after 
she  adopted  one,  which  may  be  the  case  if  the  doctor's  treatment  is  successful. 
They  wish  a  httle  girl  between  five  and  eight.  They  do  not  want  one  younger 
as  Mrs.  Post  has  to  be  in  school.  The  girl  would,  however,  be  under  her  care  in 
school.  Mr.  Post  is  very  fond  of  children,  and  is  as  anxious  as  his  wife  to  get  one. 
Mr.  Post  spoke  again  of  having  been  brought  up  by  a  foster  mother  and  father 
who  were  very  fine  people,  and  agent  said  that  since  he  had  been  an  adopted  child, 
he  must  understand  why  it  was  so  important  to  select  a  good  home  for  a  child. 
The  Posts  understand  that  they  will  have  to  wait  a  year  before  adopting  a  child, 
and  they  will  be  glad  to  have  a  visitor  from  the  Association  call  at  any  time. 

Six  references  were  interviewed  regarding  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post  and  two  very 
satisfactory  letters  concerning  them  were  received.  One  was  from  their  former 
pastor,  who  wrote,  "For  ten  years  I  knew  them  most  intimately — members  of 
the  church  I  served,  active  in  Sunday  School,  of  a  fine  Christian  character,  and 
possessing  the  quahties  that  make  a  home  in  every  sense  of  the  word."  Of 
the  six  references  seen,  one  was  the  family  physician,  who  stated  that  Mrs. 
Post's  difficulty  in  bearing  a  child  was  not  due  to  venereal  disease,  but 
to  an  organic  weakness.  He  reconmiended  them  highly.  Another  reference 
was  the  principal  of  Mrs.  Post's  school,  and  the  other  four  were  personal  friends 
of  long  standing,  all  of  whom  spoke  of  the  family  in  the  highest  terms.  The 
investigator  felt  that  their  recommendations  were  somewhat  general  and  lacking 
in  discrimination,  but  found  absolutely  nothing  derogatory  in  the  course  of  her 
interviews  with  them.  All  the  references  said  that  Mrs.  Post  would  be  capable 
of  training  a  child  well  and  of  giving  her  good  and  intelligent  care.  They  agreed 
that  Mr.  Post  was  a  reliable  man  of  excellent  character  and  that  Mrs.  Post  was  an 
intelUgent,  sweet-natured  woman.     Their  home  life  was  considered  very  happy. 

Placement. — Feb.  7.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post  saw  Caroline  at  the  office  and  de- 
cided almost  instantly  to  take  her  at  once.  They  were  given  the  main  facts 
about  the  child's  history,  but  were  not  told  of  the  father's  jail  sentences.  They 
were  also  told  of  CaroHne's  first  placement  and  the  reasons  for  its  failure. 

The  first  word  received  from  them  some  three  weeks  later  was  an  enthusiastic 
letter,  saying  that  Carohne  is  a  "perfect  dear,  is  adapting  herself  well,  and  that 
all  the  Post  family  are  enjoying  her  to  the  fullest  and  had  not  dared  to  hope  for 
such  a  dehghtful  child." 

All  visits  in  this  home  were  made  by  the  same  visitor. 

Office  Visit. — ^April  13.  Mrs.  Post  said  that  her  husband  was  absolutely  satis- 
fied with  Carohne,  and  that  she  thought  that  she  herself  would  soon  feel  the  same 
way,  but  at  present  she  was  worried  because  the  child  seemed  less  bright  than  they 
hoped.  However,  she  was  doing  well  in  the  third  grade  in  school,  was  practising 
her  music  faithfully,  was  "companionable,  willing,  and  obedient." 

Visit. — June  6.  Carohne  looks  very  sturdy  and  extremely  happy.  She  is 
especially  devoted  to  her  father,  and  had  her  arms  around  him  most  of  the  time. 
She  has  a  pretty  room,  very  daintily  arranged  for  her.  Mrs.  Post  seems  a  fine 
woman,  very  sensible  in  her  handling  of  the  child.  She  and  Mr.  Post  assured 
visitor  that  it  had  not  been  "all  sunshine"  bringing  up  Carohne;  they  had  had 
great  sympathy  with  the  family  who  had  had  to  give  her  up.  Mrs.  Post  said 
that  Caroline  had  had  absolutely  no  training,  and  she  would  not  have  beUeved  it 

[135] 


possible  that  any  child  could  reach  the  age  that  Caroline  had  and  still  have  to 
learn  so  much;  Caroline  was  not  at  all  adaptable,  and  every  step  forward  had  to 
be  taken  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  She  thinks,  however,  that  Carohne  tries 
very  hard,  that  she  Ukes  them,  and  has  learned  a  good  deal  in  four  months.  Mrs. 
Post  said  that  the  longer  Carohne  stayed  with  them  the  more  they  Uked  her. 
They  feel  that  she  has  very  fine  quahties  underneath,  and  has  the  makings  of  a 
fine  woman.  Caroline  is  still  backward  in  school,  but  Mrs.  Post  knows  just  how 
to  help  her  and  hopes  that  without  pushing  her  she  can  get  her  to  skip  two  grades. 
Visitor  called  on  Mrs.  Stockel,  one  of  the  original  references.  She  is  devoted  to 
Carohne  and  Carohne  to  her.  She  thinks  that  Carohne  is  extremely  happy  and 
is  developing  splendidly,  and  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post  have  done  everything  for 
her.     Mrs.  Post  has  worked  over  her  with  the  greatest  possible  patience  and  care. 

Visit. — Oct.  4.  The  family  had  returned  from  their  summer  vacation.  ,  .  . 
Visitor  met  Caroline  roller  skating  and  hardly  recognized  her;  she  had  improved 
so  much.  She  was  well  dressed,  her  manners  were  good,  and  she  welcomed  visitor 
cordially.  Mrs.  Post  was  anxious  for  a  long  talk.  They  feel  that  Caroline  is  not 
developing  as  she  should  and  that  the  time  has  come  for  them  to  return  her. 
The  child  had  learned  very  slowly,  but  they  felt  that  she  had  tried  hard  and  was 
improving  steadily  until  last  June.  She  passed  her  examinations  with  good  marks. 
But  during  the  summer  she  had  slumped  and  had  forgotten  most  of  the  lessons 
over  which  Mrs.  Post  worked  so  hard  with  her.  Her  teacher,  according  to  Mrs. 
Post,  is  also  dissatisfied.  She  says  that  Carohne  is  inattentive,  makes  no  effort, 
and  has  no  memory.  Mrs.  Post  thinks  that  this  lack  of  memory  is  hopeless  and 
that  there  is  something  wrong  with  the  child's  mentality.  Caroline  forgets  the 
simplest  things.  Every  morning  she  has  to  say,  "Carohne,  have  you  washed 
your  face?  Have  you  brushed  your  teeth?"  Last  year  she  had  Carohne's  duties 
reduced  to  a  system,  with  a  list  pinned  up  on  the  wall.  Now,  however,  she  has 
completely  forgotten  it  and  has  found  the  adjustment  on  coming  home  from  vaca- 
tion almost  as  hard  as  when  she  first  came  to  them.  She  has  no  idea  of  how  to 
play,  either  alone  or  with  other  children.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Post  says  that  she 
apparently  has  no  sex  knowledge,  but  feels  that  she  already  has  a  highly  developed 
sex  consciousness. 

Mrs.  Post's  remarks  were  not  all  complaints:  she  is  evidently  truly  devoted  to 
Carohne  and  considers  her  a  charming  child  in  many  ways.  She  is  attractive, 
has  sweet  manners,  and  a  dehghtful  sense  of  humor.  However,  she  feels  strongly 
that  she  is  not  the  type  who  will  develop  satisfactorily  in  their  home.  Mr.  Post 
came  in  and  talked  at  great  length.  He  is  evidently  quite  devoted  to  Caroline, 
and  visitor  felt  that  it  was  going  to  be  a  wrench  for  him  to  have  her  taken  away. 
Yet  he  said  that  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  he  would  not  let  his  heart  rule  his 
head  and  that  he  was  convinced  that  Carohne  had  not  the  capacity  for  developing 
which  he  felt  he  must  have  in  any  child  whom  they  adopt.  He  said  that  matters 
would  only  grow  worse  as  the  child  grew  older.  He  made  it  clear  that  he  was 
wilhng  and  glad  to  keep  Carohne  as  long  as  was  necessary  for  the  Association  to 
find  a  satisfactory  home  for  her.  Visitor  suggested  that  Carohne  be  brought  for 
a  mental  test  and  they  agreed  readily. 

Visitor  felt  that  the  disciphne  was  pretty  strict  and  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post 
expect  a  great  deal.  Mrs.  Post  has  worked  a  great  deal  in  school  with  difficult 
children,  and  says  that  she  has  accomplished  wonders  with  them.  She  seems  to 
have  excellent  theories  about  how  to  train  and  develop  backward  children.     She 

[136] 


is,  however,  very  different  from  Caroline  temperamentally,  and  seems  to  expect 
an  old  head  to  grow  suddenly  on  the  child's  shoulders.  Certainly  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Post  have  become  quite  out  of  patience  with  Caroline.  Mrs.  Post  said  that 
she  had  never  heard  her  husband  speak  angrily  at  home  until  the  last  few  months, 
when  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  continually  to  correct  Caroline.  Mrs.  Post  was  tired 
out  in  the  spring  and  had  a  hard  summer  and  no  time  to  rest  her  nerves,  and  per- 
haps this  has  had  something  to  do  with  her  finding  Caroline  so  difficult.  Visitor 
feels  that  if  the  mental  test  is  satisfactory  there  is  just  a  possibility  that  it  may 
make  a  difference  in  their  attitude. 

Office  Visit. — Oct.  19.  Mrs.  Post  brought  Caroline  in  for  a  mental  examina- 
tion. Both  she  and  Mr.  Post  are  much  discouraged.  CaroUne  is  a  very  lovable 
child,  and  it  is  going  to  be  hard  to  give  her  up,  for  she  has  endeared  herself  to 
them  both.  Mrs.  Post  said  that  they  have  tried  every  possible  means  to  make  her 
realize  the  necessity  of  doing  certain  routine  things.  .  .  .  The  teacher  has 
the  same  trouble  and  is  coiistantly  sajang  "Caroline  Post,  elbows  off  the  desk." 
Mr.  Post  is  very  much  discouraged,  and  said  only  that  morning  that  the  sooner 
she  left  them  the  better.  Mrs.  Post  feels  that  she  might  fit  into  a  family  where  the 
people  were  not  interested  in  mental  development  and  where  she  would  be  brought 
up  more  or  less  carelessly.  Mrs.  Post  said  that  Mr.  Post  has  met  so  many  suc- 
cessful women  in  his  banking  office  that  it  is  quite  a  disappointment  to  him  that 
he  cannot  make  Carohne  become  a  clever  woman  too.  Every  time  that  Mrs. 
Post  spoke  of  returning  Carohne  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes,  and  it  is  undoubtedly 
true  that  she  will  hate  to  give  up  the  child.  She  is  very  anxious  to  know  the  re- 
sult of  the  mental  test,  although  she  feels  that  they  cannot  possibly  keep  Carohne. 
At  present  the  child  is  very  clean  minded  and  seems  absolutely  unconscious  of 
sex  knowledge,  but  Mrs.  Post  feels  she  will  soon  have  to  tell  her  as  she  thinks  that 
she  will  mature  early. 

The  report  of  Caroline's  mental  test  was:  Age,  ten  years  eleven  months; 
mental  age,  eleven  years  four  months;  intelligence  quotient,  103.81.  Response 
to  the  tests  showed  in  every  particular  a  definite  reaction  to  the  developmental 
and  cultural  environment  in  which  she  has  lived  for  the  last  eight  months.  Gen- 
eral comprehension  is  excellent.  .  .  .  This  child  shows  definitely  capabihties 
for  social  and  intellectual  development  to  a  degree  considerably  above  the  average. 

The  examiner  also  talked  with  Mrs.  Post.  Her  opinion  was  that  the  difficulty 
was  twofold;  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post  to  theorize  about  the 
child  and  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  symptoms  of  retardation  or  abnormality,  and 
a  lack  of  practical  experience  with  children  which  resulted  in  their  considering 
perfectly  normal  naughtiness  or  forgetfulness  as  abnormal.  Little  incidents 
which  the  foster  mother  reported  as  indicative  of  abnormahty  in  Caroline  were 
such  as  any  mother  expects  and  meets  with  in  her  own  children.  The  examiner 
thought  that  it  would  be  highly  improbable  that  any  child  could  be  given  to  this 
family  who  would  be  equally  capable  of  assimilation  of  their  environment  or 
equally  promising  as  regards  mental  environment.  On  the  part  of  the  child  it 
must  be  said  that  it  would  probably  be  difficult  to  find  a  home  where  the  in- 
fluences under  which  she  developed  so  amazingly  could  be  continued;  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  if  the  foster  parents  are  not  satisfied  and  if  they  cannot  discon- 
tinue their  habit  of  anticipating  trouble  and  applying  theories,  it  would  be  better 
for  the  child  to  be  taken  at  once  rather  than  at  a  later  time,  when  the  affection 
which  she  now  feels  would  have  even  deeper  roots. 

10  [  137  ] 


Office  Visit. — Nov.  6.  Mr.  Post,  at  the  request  of  the  office,  called  to  talk 
matters  over,  and  was  interviewed  by  the  supervisor  of  case  work,  who  was 
famiUar  with  the  case,  and  by  the  psychologist  with  whom  he  wished  to  discuss 
the  mental  examination.  He  opened  the  conversation  by  saying  that  we  people 
were  entirely  mistaken  if  we  thought  that  he  meant  to  give  up  Caroline  soon. 
He  said  that  he  had  always  made  a  success  in  life  of  everythilig  that  he  had  under- 
taken, and  that  it  would  be  mortifying  to  him  to  fail  in  anything  that  he  under- 
took. He  was  quite  on  his  mettle  and  will  make  every  effort  to  keep  CaroUne 
provided  that  she  comes  up  to  their  standard.  Mr.  Post  seemed  very  fair  and 
really  anxious  to  know  where  the  fault  lies,  and  what  reason  there  may  be  for 
CaroHne's  making  such  rapid  strides  the  first  five  months  she  was  with  them  and 
then  absolutely  slumping.  .  .  .  She  formerly  got  up  at  seven  in  the  morning 
and  got  ready  for  breakfast  and  practised  twenty  minutes  before  school.  Now 
she  gets  up  at  half-past  six,  and  with  constant  nagging  from  the  family  manages 
barely  to  get  to  school  on  time,  with  no  practising.  She  seems  to  Uke  them,  and 
when  he  explains  to  her  her  faults  she  says,  "Yes,  daddy,"  and  promises  to  correct 
them,  but  immediately  does  the  same  thing  over  again.  For  instance,  he  will 
explain  to  her  a  word  she  has  misspelled  and  watch  over  her  shoulder  while  she 
does  it  and  she  will  make  the  same  mistake  a  second  time.  He  says  the  child  is 
very  responsive  and  affectionate,  and  they  are  very  fond  of  her.  He  does  not 
doubt  that  she  gets  tired  of  the  nagging,  but  she  will  do  nothing  unless  they  keep 
after  her  constantly.  ...  He  admits  that  they  have  nagged  too  much. 
Agent  suggested  that  it  was  possibly  the  adolescent  stage  beginning  to  affect  the 
child,  .  .  .  combined  with  the  fact  that  she  feels  quite  sure  of  staying  there 
and  has  let  herself  down  from  the  overexertion  of  the  first  months.  Mr.  Post 
is  the  type  of  man  who  seems  to  have  no  patience  with  any  one  who  can't  jump 
at  things  as  he  does.  He  is  to  a  certain  extent  sympathetic,  but  fails  to  under- 
stand that  a  child  may  be  perfectly  normal  and  yet  fail  to  measure  up  to  his  re- 
quirements. It  was  arranged  that  a  visitor  would  talk  with  CaroUne  and  see  if 
it  was  possible  for  the  child  to  rise  to  the  standards  that  she  had  previously  had. 

To  the  examiner  Mr.  Post  made  the  following  statements;  first,  he  said  con- 
clusively that  he  had  no  intention  at  any  time  of  giving  up  the  child  and  that  it 
was  Mrs.  Post  who,  because  of  her  nervous  condition,  wished  to  do  so.  (This 
was  in  direct  contradiction  to  the  statement  of  Mrs.  Post  ten  days  previous  .  .  . 
that  Caroline  was  being  kept  in  their  home  only  through  her  intercession,  as  Mr. 
Post  was  "totally  disgusted"  with  her.  She  had  further  said  that  Caroline  was 
upsetting  Mr.  Post,  that  he  was  constantly  disturbed  by  her,  and  in  a  bad  humor 
most  of  the  time.)  Mr.  Post  spoke  at  length  concerning  Mrs.  Post,  and  said 
that  he  reahzed  that  she  had  never  had  the  experience  of  Uving  with  normal  chil- 
dren and  that  she  was  prone  to  theorizing.  According  to  his  story,  the  dissatis- 
faction rested  entirely  with  Mrs.  Post,  and  affected  him  only  in  so  far  as  he  had  to 
confess  that  he  was  faihng  in  something.  He  seemed  quite  convinced  that  the 
child  was  not  normal,  but  the  trivial  little  incidents  which  he  brought  out  as  proof 
were  such  things  as  might  have  happened  in  any  ordinary  family.  .  .  . 
Examiner  feels  strongly  that  they  expect  entirely  too  much  of  the  child.  .  .  . 
They  should  be  made  to  realize  that  she  is  just  a  young  child  and  the  responsi- 
bility should  rest  with  them  and  not  with  her.  .  .  .  The  constant  nagging 
which  they  confess  and  the  constant  evidence  which  they  give  the  child  that  she 
is  not  pleasing  them  would  be  enough  to  dishearten  anybody.     It  is  extremely 

I  138  ] 


unlikely  that  any  child  could  be  found  who  at  this  early  age  could  measure  up  to 
the  standard  of  success  which  Mr.  Post  is  so  proud  of  having  attained  and  which 
he  demands  in  all  those  associated  with  him. 

Visit. — Nov.  29.  The  regular  visitor  took  Caroline  out  a  week  later  for  an  after- 
noon. .  .  .  Carohne  seems  to  be  happy  and  thoroughly  devoted  to  both  her 
father  and  mother.  She  does  not  seem  to  feel  that  .  .  .  too  much  is  ex- 
pected of  her,  but  admits  that  she  is  terribly  forgetful  and  has  to  be  reproved  con- 
tinually. She  is  a  decidedly  attractive  Uttle  girl,  and  chats  on  very  pleasantly, 
though  she  probably  has  no  great  depth  of  nature.  She  promised  that  she  would 
try  very  hard. 

Visit. — Dec.  12.  Mrs.  Post  said  again  and  again  in  the  child's  presence  that 
she  was  in  the  wrong  home  and  should  be  taken  away.  She  gave  the  visitor  to 
understand  that  Mr.  Post  had  made  up  his  mind  to  part  with  Caroline.  Mr.  Post 
came  in  and  said  at  once  that  he  had  decided  to  give  Caroline  another  chance. 
Mrs.  Post  admitted  that  she  had  not  been  well  for  some  time,  and  that  she  had 
probably  been  hard  on  the  child.  Visitor  feels  that  neither  of  these  people  is  at 
all  generous  in  judging  the  child,  but  Caroline  seems  happy  and  there  is  nothing 
to  do  but  to  see  how  the  present  trial  works  out. 

Visit. — Feb.  1.  When  the  visitor  next  called  Mrs.  Post  said  that  she  did  not 
believe  that  they  had  expected  too  much  of  Carohne.  .  .  .  Caroline  takes 
too  much  for  granted.  She  expects  to  be  treated  as  their  equal.  This  is  perhaps 
their  fault  because  when  she  first  came  they  took  her  everywhere  with  them.  Her 
manners  in  company  charmed  the  older  people  whom  she  met.  Mrs.  Post  feels 
that  when  Carohne  is  older  she  will  invariably  be  the  center  of  the  crowd;  this 
is  not  so  now  because  the  children  of  her  own  age  cordially  disUke  her.  Mrs. 
Post  says  that  Carohne  is  a  born  servant,  because  she  loves  to  scrub.  She  thinks 
that  Carohne  is  very  silly  about  boys,  and  thinks  that  they  are  always  looking  at 
her.  .  .  .  She  feels  that  the  child  is  over-emotional.  She  feels  that  her  emo- 
tions will  develop  at  the  expense  of  her  intellect,  and  she  does  not  feel  that  she  can 
take  the  responsibihty  of  guiding  her  through  the  difficult  three  or  four  years  to 
come.  Mrs.  Post,  who  was  brought  up  in  a  very  prim  fashion,  cannot  under- 
stand the  demonstrative  side  of  the  child's  natm*e.  She  said  that  she  had  never 
beheved  that  such  a  thing  as  a  "soul  kiss"  existed  until  she  saw  Carohne  kiss  Mr. 
Post.  Their  marriage  had  been  a  friendly  one,  and  neither  she  nor  Mr.  Post 
could  understand  Caroline's  show  of  affection.  Carohne's  behavior  has  got  on 
Mrs.  Post's  nerves  so  that  she  is  almost  a  wreck.  She  expects  to  undergo  an 
operation  in  two  months  and  she  cannot  have  anything  disturbing  her  meanwhile. 

Removal. — Feb.  8.  Carohne  was  removed  and  taken  directly  to  her  new 
home.  She  had  been  with  the  Posts  a  year  and  a  day.  Mrs.  Post  said  that  she 
was  sorry  for  the  people  who  had  to  tell  Caroline  that  she  was  not  coming  back 
to  the  Posts.  She  even  said  that  they  might  be  willing  to  take  her  back  per- 
manently later  on  because  she  felt  that  a  separation  from  them  might  cure  her 
of  the  faults  of  which  they  disapproved.  She  said  good-by  to  the  child  very 
affectionately. 

This  second  placement  shows  some  of  the  same  elements  of  failure 
as  the  first,  but  involves  infinitely  more  complex  problems.  It  was 
felt,  after  Caroline  had  responded  so  well  to  even  the  Umited  advan- 

[139] 


tages  of  the  McMillan  home  and  had  shown  improvement  in  her  sec- 
ond over  her  first  mental  examination,  that  she  was  the  type  of  child 
who  could  develop  considerably  in  a  higher  grade  home,  and  conse- 
quently the  home  selected  was  one  in  which  she  would  have  distinct 
advantages  in  education  and  some  social  advantages  also. 

One  element  of  failure  in  the  Post  home,  as  in  the  McMillan,  lay  in 
the  temperament  of  the  foster  mother.  Added  to  this  was  the  very 
exacting  temperament  of  the  foster  father.  The  foster  parents'  rela- 
tionship to  each  other  probably  had  nearly  as  much  to  do  with  the 
failure  of  the  placement  as  did  the  child's  difficulties.  It  must  be 
frankly  admitted  at  the  outset  of  this  discussion  that  the  original  in- 
vestigation of  this  family  was  inadequate  because  it  did  not  penetrate 
the  temperament  and  complications  involved.  Nothing  of  the  subse- 
quent difficulties  with  Mrs.  Post  was  foreshadowed,  except  that  of 
possible  ill  health,  and  there  was  a  hint  merely  of  Mr.  Post's,  in  his 
objection  to  being  "investigated" — which  in  passing  we  may  remark 
is  usually  a  danger  signal — and  possibly  in  his  somewhat  egotistical 
account  of  himself.  The  advantages  of  the  home  were  manifest  and 
were  emphasized  by  references.  It  is,  however,  only  fair  to  say  that 
the  kind  of  complications  which  subsequently  arose  were  the  kind 
which  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  discover  by  any  means  but  the  actual 
experiment  of  placing  the  child  there. 

In  this  situation — the  Post  family  and  Caroline — we  have  to  reckon 
not  only  with  the  child's  adjustment  to  them  and  theirs  to  her,  but 
with  the  effect  of  this  adjustment  upon  the  relations  between  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Post.  This  is  true,  as  we  have  said  before,  of  all  placements,  but 
it  is  not  always  so  obvious  as  in  this  instance.  Beyond  a  doubt  there 
was  in  Mrs.  Post's  dissatisfaction  with  Caroline  more  than  disappoint- 
ment at  the  child's  failure  to  develop  as  she  had  hoped;  there  is 
distinctly  an  element  of  jealousy  over  the  child's  fondness  for  Mr. 
Post.  The  jealousy  of  a  grown  woman  over  the  affection  of  a  child 
of  ten  will  seem  improbable  only  to  those  unfamiliar  with  the  intimate 
adjustments  involved  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Post's  remark  to  the  visitor 
about  "the  soul  kiss" — her  own  phrase — ^is  highly  significant.  Her 
remarks  that  Caroline  would  be  the  center  of  a  crowd  as  she  grew 

[  140  1 


older,  coupled  with  her  suggestion  that  Caroline  is  a  bom  servant 
because  she  loves  to  scrub,  are  certainly  not  made  in  the  spirit  of  fair- 
minded  criticism,  but  are  actuated  by  the  desire  to  disparage  the 
child. 

The  development  of  Mr.  Post  in  the  character  of  a  foster  father  is 
highly  suggestive.  For  one  thing,  he  took  more  active  a  part  than 
foster  fathers  usually  do  in  the  experiment;  he  did  more  and  he  said 
much,  much  more.  His  behavior  and  its  effect  upon  his  wife's  atti- 
tude were  possibly  the  determinants  of  the  situation.  An  aggressive 
man,  none  too  sure  of  himself  and  his  position,  probably,  under  a 
veneer  of  assurance,  wanting  results  quickly — as  if  he  were  putting 
through  a  business  deal  instead  of  handling  one  of  the  most  delicate 
and  intimate  of  human  relationships — he  displays  few  of  the  primary 
requisites  of  a  father.  His  letters  and  his  speeches  are  full  of  significant 
hints  of  the  characteristics  that  made  the  placement  fail.  *'  I  am  satis- 
fied," he  wrote,  *'that  the  young  lady  concerned  is  not  all  we  hoped 
for,"  as  if  her  failure  to  come  up  to  standard  were  a  gratification  to 
him.  Mr.  Post  was  disappointed  because  Caroline  at  ten — ^just  out  of 
an  institution,  and  before  that  in  the  most  degraded  home  imaginable, 
as  he  knew — was  not  developing  into  one  of  those  clever  women  in 
his  business  office.  "He  has  no  patience  with  people  who  cannot 
jump  at  things  as  he  does."  But  most  significant  of  all  are  his  reasons 
for  wishing  to  give  Caroline  a  longer  trial.  "He  said  that  he  had 
always  made  a  success  of  ever3rthing  that  he  undertook,  and  it  would 
be  mortifying  to  him  to  fail  in  anything."  Mrs.  Post's  dissatisfaction 
"affected  him  only  in  so  far  as  he  had  to  confess  that  he  was  failing  in 
something."  In  these  statements  we  have  the  key  to  the  reasons  why 
Mr.  Post  failed  as  a  foster  father.  It  has  become  with  him  not  a  ques- 
tion of  whether  Caroline  is  happy,  whether  his  way  of  dealing  with 
her  faults  is  the  best,  whether  indeed  those  faults  would  exist  if  he 
did  not  deal  with  them  by  means  of  constant  nagging,  but  of  how 
this  experiment  was  affecting  him  and  his  reputation. 

The  problem  of  Caroline's  deterioration  in  this  home  is  not  so  easily 
answered.  No  doubt  it  was  due  in  part  to  the  approach  of  adolescence, 
in  part  to  that  slackening  of  effort  which  so  often  occurs  when  a  child 

1 141  ] 


has  come  to  feel  fairly  sure  of  her  position  in  the  family,  and  certainly 
it  was  due  also  to  the  methods  of  training  used  by  the  Posts.  Reitera- 
tion and  nagging,  "keeping  at"  a  child,  inevitably  have  a  dulling 
rather  than  a  stimulating  effect.  Moreover,  Caroline  doubtless  felt 
instinctively  the  impossible  nature,  for  her,  of  the  Posts'  standards, 
and  was  too  discouraged  to  make  the  effort  demanded  by  them. 

The  third  family  in  which  Caroline  was  placed  was  described  as 
follows  (visits  to  references  omitted)  : 

Third  Home. — Mr.  Andrews  is  an  American  and  a  Presbyterian.  He  is  a  tall, 
rather  well  built  man,  with  gray  hair  which  has  receded  quite  a  bit  from  his  forehead. 
His  eyes  are  a  pale  blue  and  his  face  is  quite  florid.  He  wears  a  small  mustache. 
He  is  a  man  who  is  very  economical  and  his  only  extravagance  seems  to  be  a 
victrola.  Several  years  ago  he  used  to  smoke,  but  he  felt  that  it  was  Uke  burning 
money,  so  has  given  up  this  habit.  He  has  had  only  a  pubhc  school  education. 
He  seems  a  very  inteUigent  sort  of  a  man. 

Mrs.  Andrews  is  also  American  and  a  Protestant  and  is  of  German  descent. 
She  is  a  short,  stout,  motheriy  appearing  woman,  has  dark  eyes,  dark  hair,  and 
wears  glasses.  She  was  dressed  in  a  neat  cotton  house  dress.  She  speaks  with 
great  affection  of  her  father  and  mother.  She  always  Uved  at  home,  never  having 
worked  out  before  her  marriage.  She  had  a  pubUc  school  education.  She  seems 
to  be  a  very  motherly  type  of  woman,  though  rather  sentimental  in  her  attitude 
and  probably  would  be  over-indulgent  with  a  child.  She  is  not  as  intelhgent  in 
her  conversation  as  her  husband.     She  appears  to  be  very  strong  and  well. 

The  Andrews  home  is  a  two-story,  two-family  brick  house  in  a  resp)ectable 
neighborhood.  It  is  a  neighborhood  of  the  lower  middle  class.  The  houses  and 
Uttle  yards  are  all  neat  and  well  cared  for.  There  were  many  children  playing 
and  rushing  about  in  a  very  boisterous  manner.  These  children  were  all  fairly 
well  dressed,  but  gave  the  impression  of  being  somewhat  undisciphned.  The 
public  school  and  Presbyterian  Church  are  within  a  few  blocks  from  the  house. 
The  upper  floor  the  Andrews  rent  to  a  young  married  couple  with  two  small 
children.  Their  own  apartment  consists  of  five  rooms  and  bath.  The  front  room 
is  hght  and  airy,  but  the  dining-room  and  the  bedroom  where  the  child  would 
sleep  were  inside  rooms,  and  were  not  very  Ught.  However,  they  seemed  fairly 
airy.  Everything  about  the  apartment  was  in  good  order  and  very  clean.  The 
fimiishings  were  somewhat  nondescript,  being  neither  particularly  good  nor  par- 
ticularly bad  taste.    The  rooms  seemed  very  homelike  and  comfortable. 

Mr.  Andrews  is  now  working  for  the  Government.  He  has  been  making  quite 
a  bit  of  overtime  during  the  war,  but  this  has  now  ended.  He  makes  $33  a  week 
and  they  get  $23  a  month  for  the  rent  of  their  upstairs  rooms.  Mr.  Andrews  has 
no  insurance  of  any  kind.  He  has  two  or  three  Liberty  Bonds  and  a  bank  ac- 
count, and  belongs  to  the  Trade  Union  League,  which  in  case  of  illness  would  pay 
a  small  benefit. 

The  Andrews  want  to  take  a  little  girl  between  five  and  eight  years  old.  They 
are  not  particular  about  her  history.     Mr.  Andrews  spoke  in  a  very  sensible  way 

[142] 


upon  this  subject.  However,  they  would  like  to  know  the  history  of  the  child 
whom  they  do  take.  They  are  willing  to  give  the  child  a  fair  trial,  but  would,  of 
coiu-se,  not  wish  to  keep  a  child  who  did  not  appeal  to  them.  Agent  feels  that  a 
little  girl  about  five  years  old,  affectionate,  not  unattractive,  but  not  necessarily 
a  particularly  intelligent  child,  would  fit  into  this  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews 
would  require  an  affectionate  type  of  httle  girl  as  they  would  probably  be  de- 
monstrative with  her. 

Preparation  for  Placement. — Before  Carohne  was  placed  in  the  Andrews  home, 
the  visitor — a  different  visitor,  who  made  all  the  following  visits — took  her  there 
to  call  and  to  spend  the  afternoon.  .  .  .  Mr.  Andrews  came  to  the  door  and 
seemed  very  glad  to  see  Caroline.  Caroline  was  behaving  her  best,  and  was  very 
sweet  and  shy.  She  shook  hands  very  prettily  with  Mrs.  Andrews,  who  greeted 
her  affectionately.  Mrs.  Andrews  is  very  kind  and  motherly.  Mr.  Andrews 
helped  CaroUne  take  off  her  hat  and  coat,  and  then  took  her  into  the  adjoining 
room  to  see  his  canaries.  Mrs.  Andrews  said  immediately  that  no  one  could 
help  liking  the  little  thing,  that  she  was  attracted  to  Caroline  the  second  she  saw 
her.  She  could  not  understand  how  the  other  family  (the  Posts)  could  give  her 
up.  She  thought  that  it  showed  a  great  deal  of  selfishness.  During  this  conver- 
sation Mr.  Andrews  and  CaroUne  were  having  a  wonderful  time  with  the  canaries. 
CaroUne  was  delighted  with  them.  She  walked  about  the  room  admiring  various 
things,  and  this,  of  course,  pleased  Mr.  Andrews.  He  was  very  gentle  and  kind 
and  is  the  sort  of  a  man  who  would  be  very  good  to  a  child.  He  has  a  victrola 
and  a  coUection  of  records  of  which  he  is  very  proud.  He  played  a  great  many  for 
CaroUne,  and  she  sang  in  a  high  clear  voice.  Mr.  Andrews'  eyes  never  left  her 
for  an  instant.  When  she  went  back  to  Mrs.  Andrews  Mrs.  Andrews  asked  her 
if  she  would  Uke  to  stay.  CaroUne  said  that  she  thought  she  should  go  home  first, 
but  that  she  would  like  to  come  again.  The  Andrews  are  plain  people,  who  would 
not  expect  too  much  of  her,  but  who  will  give  her  a  great  deal  of  affection  and  who 
probably  will  admire  her  childish  ways.  The  only  thing  to  guard  against  is  that 
they  might  be  over-indulgent. 

Placement.— Feb.  8,  '19. 

Visit. — May  3,  '19.  Caroline  was  placed  in  the  Andrews  home.  Agent  had 
an  opportunity  to  talk  with  CaroUne  a  long  time  alone.  She  never  mentioned 
the  Posts.  She  spoke  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  as  "daddy"  and  "mother," 
and  is  apparently  perfectly  at  home  with  them.  She  has  made  some  good 
friends  at  school  and  on  the  block.  Agent  does  not  feel  that  the  Andrews 
expect  as  much  of  her  as  the  Posts  did.  They  are  apparently  satisfied  that  she 
is  developing  normaUy.  Mrs.  Andrews  was  more  than  cordial.  She  said  that 
CaroUne  is  a  good  Uttle  girl  ordinarily,  but  she  sometimes  gets  stubborn  streaks. 
She  is  having  fractions  in  school  now,  and  Mr.  Andrews  helps  her  in  the  evening. 
She  does  not  Uke  this  work  and  is  often  rather  sulky  about  it.  Her  school  report 
last  term  was  very  good.  Mrs.  Andrews  said  that  she  did  not  know  how  she  got 
along  before  CaroUne  came  to  her. 

Visit. — June  24,  '19.  Mrs.  Andrews  called.  She  is  anxious  to  take  out  adop- 
tion papers  as  early  as  possible.  She  says  that  at  first  Caroline  was  quite  obsti- 
nate, that  she  refused  help  from  Mr.  Andrews  in  the  evening  with  her  school 
work,  and  that  she  had  crying  spells.  During  one  of  these  she  told  Mrs  Andrews 
that  Mrs.  Post  had  told  her  that  her  own  mother  was  a  drunkard.     Mrs.  Andrews 

[143] 


said  that  this  had  apparently  been  in  the  child's  mind  for  some  time  and  that  she 
became  quite  hysterical  about  it.  This  touched  Mrs.  Andrews'  heart,  and  she 
feels  quite  bitterly  toward  Mrs.  Post  for  telUng  the  child  such  a  thing.  She 
denied  the  story  up  and  down  and  told  CaroUne  that  she  was  never  to  think  of  it 
again.  Another  time,  when  a  drunken  man  passed  her  house,  Caroline  said  she 
remembered  seeing  her  father  in  that  condition.  Mrs.  Andrews  would  prefer 
that  Carohne  would  not  talk  about  these  things  and  that  she  would  forget  them. 
At  the  same  time  she  reahzes  that  it  may  do  the  child  good  to  feel  free  to  talk,  and 
for  this  reason  she  does  not  stop  her  doing  so.  Caroline  still  shows  a  Uttle  ob- 
stinancy,  and  Mrs.  Andrews  feels  that  perhaps  this  is  a  good  trait,  as  it  may  keep 
her  from  temptation  later  on.  Mrs.  Andrews  is  a  very  motherly,  warm-hearted 
woman. 

Visit. — Aug.  12,  '19.  The  Andrews  are  immensely  pleased  with  Caroline,  and 
think  she  improves  every  day.  They  cannot  understand  why  the  Posts  gave  her 
up,  because  they  think  that  the  only  faults  she  has  are  the  natural  faults  of  a 
child.  They  say  that  she  is  absolutely  truthful,  clean-minded,  and  very  sweet 
tempered,  and  that  on  these  few  things  they  can  build  anything.  She  is  appar- 
ently very  happy  with  them  and  they  are  proud  of  her.  She  is  a  Uttle  slow  at 
times  and  stubborn,  but  they  feel  that  she  will  outgrow  this.  CaroUne  is  de- 
veloping very  fast,  looked  perfectly  well,  and  is  apparently  happy.  Mrs.  Andrews 
thinks  she  wiU  mature  soon.  She  is  going  to  tell  Caroline  all  about  it  because 
she  thinks  it  wrong  for  young  girls  to  be  ignorant. 

Note. — Oct.  6,  '19.     Mrs.  Andrews  caUed  and  brought  a  good  school  report. 

Visit. — Jan.  2,  '20.  Caroline  is  doing  very  well  indeed,  and  Mrs.  Andrews 
said  that  both  she  and  her  husband  loved  her  as  if  she  were  their  very  own.  Mrs. 
Andrews  could  not  say  enough  in  praise  of  her.  CaroUne  has  faults,  of  course, 
but  they  are  only  natural  ones,  and  she  is  not  difficult  to  discipline.  She  takes 
correction  very  sweetly,  and  is  conscientiously  trying  to  be  a  good  girl.  She  is  a 
very  friendly  child,  and  the  neighbors  Uke  her.  She  is  getting  on  very  well  in 
school  and  always  brings  home  a  good  report.  CaroUne  spoke  a  piece  for  agent, 
and  accompanied  it  with  little  gestures  which  Mrs.  Andrews  said  were  original. 
She  seemed  very  proud  of  Caroline's  abiUty.  Caroline  is  growing  rapidly,  has  a 
good  color,  and  apparently  is  in  the  best  of  health.  She  is  adjusting  admirably 
to  this  home.  Agent  does  not  think  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  are  at  all  senti- 
mental. They  are  just  natural,  simple,  unassuming  people,  who  love  CaroUne 
whole  heartedly  and  are  not  ashamed  to  show  it. 

Adoption  Visit. — ^Apr.  17,  '20.  CaroUne  was  at  home  alone  when  agent  arrived. 
She  was  very  agreeable  and  quite  entertaining.  Her  remarks  were  spontaneous, 
and  she  is  undoubtedly  perfectly  happy.  She  is  in  5-B  grade,  and  told  agent  how 
much  she  liked  her  school.  She  says  that  aU  the  children  there  are  nice  and  she 
has  ever  so  many  friends.  She  likes  the  Sunday  school  too,  and  has  given  a  num- 
ber of  recitations  at  their  various  entertainments.  Caroline  told  agent  aU  about 
the  new  victrola  records  and  how  they  are  playing  two  each  evening  until  they  go 
over  aU  of  them.  She  goes  to  the  store  with  Mr.  Andrews  the  first  of  every  month 
to  make  his  new  selections,  and  apparently  they  enjoy  these  pilgrimages  very 
much  indeed.  CaroUne  says  that  she  loves  it  here  and  wants  to  belong  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Andrews  completely. 

Mrs.  Andrews  came  in  and  was  as  sweet  and  cordial  as  ever.  She  sent  CaroUne 
to  do  some  dusting  while  she  and  agent  had  a  talk.    She  said  that  CaroUne  is 

[144] 


pretty  good  about  helping,  but  is  very  slow.  However,  Mrs.  Andrews  feels  de- 
cidedly that  she  should  have  some  training  and  so  insists  upon  her  doing  something 
every  Saturday  morning.  The  people  in  the  neighborhood  have  accepted  her 
very  naturally  and  kindly.  The  Andrews  told  them  that  she  is  a  child  of  a  friend 
of  theirs  and  no  questions  have  been  asked.  Mrs.  Andrews  said  that  they  could 
never  give  her  up,  as  they  love  her  so  much.  She  said  that  she  often  goes  in  and 
looks  at  Caroline  when  she  is  asleep  and  wonders  where  her  mother  is  and  what 
she  is  thinking.  Caroline  never  talks  about  her  past  any  more,  and  they  are 
hoping  that  it  will  gradually  fade  from  her  mind.  Agent  noticed  that  CaroUne 
was  singing  as  she  worked,  and  Mrs.  Andrews  said  that  she  was  always  like  that. 
She  is  sweet-tempered,  generous  and  lovable.  Agent  asked  Mrs.  Andrews  what 
Caroline's  attitude  toward  boys  was.  Agent  particularly  wanted  to  know,  in  view 
of  what  Mrs.  Post  had  said  about  this.  Mrs.  Andrews  said  that  naturally  CaroUne 
likes  some  of  the  boys.  There  are  two  or  three  of  them  nearby  with  whom  she  and 
the  other  little  girls  play.  They  want  her  to  do  this  and  think  it  would  be  a  mis- 
take for  her  not  to.  They  often  race  home  from  school  together  at  noon,  and 
everything  is  natural  and  unaffected.  Mrs.  Andrews  had  told  Caroline  to  come 
to  her  at  any  time  that  any  one  does  or  says  anything  that  she  does  not  under- 
stand and  feels  that  she  has  Caroline's  confidence. 

Agent  has  always  been  very  favorably  impressed  with  conditions  in  this  home, 
and  thinks  that  Caroline  could  not  be  anywhere  where  she  could  be  more  happily 
adjusted.  Mrs.  Andrews  is  as  sweet  and  motherly  as  she  can  be,  and  her  happi- 
ness in  having  a  Httle  girl  is  really  touching. 

In  the  course  of  the  adoption  visit  Mr.  Andrews  was  also  interviewed,  and  a 
reference  consulted  who  highly  recommended  adoption.  Adoption  was  approved 
following  this  visit. 

The  reason  why  Caroline  was  a  success  in  this  home,  after  proving 
a  failure  in  two  others,  is  undoubtedly  to  be  found  not  in  any  change 
in  the  girl  herself,  but  in  the  wholly  different  attitude  of  her  foster 
parents.  In  some  ways  the  Andrews  home  might  seem  somewhat  of  a 
come-down  after  the  Post  home;  yet  in  spite  of  its  obvious  social  and 
educational  inferiorities  it  was  deliberately  chosen  as  more  suitable. 
Doubtless  Caroline  will  have  fewer  advantages  socially  and  less  men- 
tal stimulus  in  this  simple  home;  but  the  Andrews  possess  the  one 
essential  quality,  which  neither  the  McMillans  nor  the  Posts  had — 
that  of  genuine  humanity.  Their  whole-hearted  warmth  in  making 
her  at  once  a  real  part  of  their  lives,  their  tolerance  and  understanding, 
are  the  key  to  their  success.  They  reaUze  that  she  is  "a  little  slow," 
but  her  faults  are  "the  natural  faults  of  any  child";  she  sulks  over 
fractions,  but  that  merely  amuses  them  and  they  are  satisfied  with 
her  good  school  reports;  they  are  proud  of  her,  and  "not  ashamed  to 
show  their  affection  for  her."    Nothing  could  differ  more  sharply  from 

[145] 


the  restless,  censorious  attitude  of  the  Posts.  "Natural,  simple,  un- 
assuming people,'^  with  common  sense  and  an  instinct  for  human 
relationships  can  be  counted  on  to  make  a  success  where  dozens  of 
more  educated  and  intelligent  people  may  make  failures.  One  reason 
for  their  success  lies  probably  in  their  very  natural,  simple  point  of 
view.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  wanted  a  child  because  they  loved  chil- 
dren and  had  lost  a  daughter  of  their  own.  When  the  child  came  to 
them  she  was  accepted  without  question,  and  became  at  once  their 
own  child.  As  far  as  they  were  concerned,  the  matter  was  settled. 
One  cannot  help  feeling  about  the  Posts,  on  the  other  hand,  that  self- 
ishness was  a  large  ingredient  in  their  attitude.  They  wanted  a  child 
whose  brilliance  would  shed  light  on  their  own  reputation;  they 
wanted  a  child  "to  be  a  credit  to  them,"  not  a  child  to  love  nor  a  child 
to  make  happy.  Mr.  Post  was  troubled  with  a  restless  ambition 
which  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  be  simple  and  natural  in  this  rela- 
tionship. Mr.  Andrews,  on  the  contrary,  was  comfortably  settled  in 
his  particular  niche  and  not  worried  about  the  effect  of  Caroline's 
development  on  his  reputation.  The  Andrews  expected  "natural 
faults"  in  a  child,  the  Posts  did  not;  Mrs.  Post  theorized  about  "the 
backward  child"  and  worried  about  CaroUne's  intelligence;  Mrs. 
Andrews  and  her  husband  "loved  her  as  if  she  were  their  very  own." 


146 


PUBLISHER'S  NOTE 

As  has  been  said  in  the  preface  to  this  monograph,  free  foster  home 
provision  is  advisable  for  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  State's  de- 
pendent children.  It  has  been  necessary  to  work  out  other  methods 
of  caring  for  the  majority  of  dependent  children.  The  plan  of  board- 
ing such  children  in  family  homes  is  one  of  the  most  important  of 
these  methods.  Part  II  of  this  monograph,  based  on  the  work  of  the 
Boston  Children's  Aid  Society,  will  discuss  the  placement  and  super- 
vision of  children  in  boarding  homes. 


[147] 


INDEX 


(Note:    Proper  names  of  children  and  foster  homes  appearing  in  illustrative  cases  will  be  found 
listed  under  "Records") 


Abandonment:  investigation  of,  23; 
record  of,  19;  what  constitutes,  11 

Adjustment:  between  agent  and  foster 
family,  99;  between  agent  and  child, 
100;  between  child  and  foster  family, 
86;  special  problems  of,  88 

Adoption:  advisability  of,  105;  ex- 
plaining to  foster  parents,  37;  of 
children  of  bad  heredity,  104;  pro- 
vision for  child's  future  in  cases  of, 
100;  supervision  of  children  after, 
114;  visit  before,  102,  103 

Agreements:  regarding  adoption  of 
children  of  bad  history,  104;  re- 
garding supervision,  36;  written,  be- 
tween agency  and  foster  family,  36 

Approved  foster  homes:  analyses  of, 
44,  49;  what  constitutes,  35;  see 
also.  Records 

Case  records:  See  Records 

Child's  family  history:  facts  to  be 
secured,  15;  inadequate  investiga- 
tion of,  23;  informing  foster  parents 
of,  67;  reasons  for  thorough  investi- 
gation of,  13,  14;  see  also.  Heredity, 
Records 

Church:  See  Religion 

Community:  attitude  of  toward  child, 
96;  child's  place  in,  85 

Court  action:  Children  removed  from 
parents  by,  12,  13 

Disapproved  foster  homes :  analyses  of, 
52,  58;  reasons  for  disapproving,  60; 
reasons  for  full  investigation  of,  59; 
see  also,  Records 

Discipline:  Agency's  part  in,  88,  90, 
92,  101;  methods  used  by  foster 
family,  89 

Doran,  Mary  S.,  31 

Doubtful  foster  homes :  analysis  of,  60 ; 
records  of,  61 


Education:  assisting  children  to  se- 
cure, 85;  attitude  of  teachers  toward 
foster  child,  96;  case  of  special  super- 
vision of.  111;  continuity  in,  117; 
need  for  supervision  of,  85;  school 
reports,  86;  subsidies  for,  113 

Examinations:  mental,  15;  physical, 
15 

Family  history:  See  child's  family  his- 
tory 

Foster  homes:  types  available,  for 
older  children,  76;  for  younger  chil- 
dren, 40;  see  also.  Approved,  Dis- 
approved, Doubtful  foster  homes 

Health:  attention  to  in  supervision,  80; 
pre-placement  treatment,  17;  state- 
ment of  in  first  investigation,  15; 
see  also.  Physical  examinations 

Heredity:  adoption  of  children  of  bad, 
104;  as  a  factor  in  child-placing,  26; 
see  also,  Child's  family  history.  Rec- 
ords 

"Improper  guardianship":  investiga- 
tion of  cases  of,  12;  see  also.  Court 
action,  Records 

Indenture,  84 

Institutions:  as  alternatives  to  foster 
home  care,  119;  for  special  training, 
118,  119 

Legal  status:   Statement  of  child's,  15 

Medical  Care:  See  Health 

Mental  Examinations,  15 

Moral  protection:  of  older  girls,  77,  81; 
placement  of  boy  and  girl  in  one 
home,  82 

Neighborhood:  Choice  of  in  place- 
ments, 38 

Older  children:  advantages  of  simple 
homes  for,  76;  amount  of  work  ex- 
pected of,  78;  attitude  of  foster 
family  toward,  77;  character  of  men 


149 


in  homes  used  for,  77;  choosing 
homes  for,  76 ;  records  of  supervision 
of.  111,  120;  school  subsidies  for, 
113;  sleeping  arrangements  for,  81; 
supervision  of ,  113,  115;  termination 
of  supervision,  1 14 ;  supervision  rec- 
ords of,  72,  111,  120 

Orphans:  acceptance  of,  13 

Personality:  as  factor  in  investigation 
of  foster  homes,  32;  as  factor  in 
supervision,  86,  90,  91,  92,  99,  100; 
of  agent,  79,  93;  of  child,  16,  90 

Physical:  care,  see  Health;  examina- 
tions, 15 

Placement:  of  children  of  same  family, 
71;  choosing  the  child,  66;  choosing 
the  home,  65,  consulting  child's 
preferences,  70;  drawbacks  of  de- 
layed, 65;  meeting  between  child 
and  foster  family,  67;  preparing  the 
child,  70;  preparing  the  foster  fam- 
ily, 67,  68;  use  of  the  "visiting 
home,"  67;  see  also.  Older  children. 
Records 

Pre-placement  care,  16,  17 

Public  Officials:  Co-operation  with,  5; 
court,  13;  poor  law,  11,  26,  72 

Reception  of  children:  See  Child's 
family  history,  Pre-placement  care 

Records: 

Children's  Histories:  abandonment, 
(Robert  Campbell)  19;  children  of 
abnormal  parents,  (Ruth  Gibson) 
27,  (Richard  Emmons)  28,  (Clara 
Michaels)  29;  "improper  guar- 
dianship," (Catherine  Tuttle)  24; 
child  of  unmarried  parents,  (Cath- 
erine Gordon)  17 

Foster  homes:  approved,  (Has- 
brouck)  40,  (Gregory)  46;  disap- 
proved, (Peters)  49,  (Walker)  54, 
(Gutmann)  61 ;  used  in  placement 
case,  (Stone)  74;  used  in  re-place- 
ment cases,  (Clark)  120,  (Staple- 
ton)  121,  (Long)  123,  (Stevens) 
126,  (Curtis)  127,  (McMillan)  129, 
(Post)  134,  (Andrews)  142;  used 
in  supervision  cases,  (Gould)  105, 
(Morgan)  107,  (Wilton)  111 

Placement  special :  ( Juha  Murray)  72 

Re-placements:  (Anna  Nichols)  120, 
(Robert  and  Henry  Hale)  126, 
(Caroline  Turner)  129 

Supervision:  (baby,  Edward)  105, 
(Phihp  and  Helen  Tucker)  107, 
(Martha  Dean)  111 


Recreation:  necessity  for,  83;  visitor's 
part  in  planning,  84 

References:  character  of,  45;  impor- 
tance of  interviewing,  44,  45,  58,  59; 
interviewed  following  visit  at  foster 
home,  45;  supervision  visits  to,  97; 
value  of  written,  54,  58,  59;  visiting 
before  adoption,  103 

Religion:  agreement  with  foster  fam- 
ily concerning,  36 ;  as  factor  in  super- 
vision, 80,  85;  placement  according 
to,  5 

Re-placements:  attitude  of  children 
toward,  116;  continuity  of  school 
work  in,  1 17 ;  effect  on  children  of,  1 19 ; 
see  also  Records 

Reynolds,  Bertha  C,  31 

School:  See  Education 

Self-support:  attainment  of,  114,  115; 
preparation  for,  84,  85 

Separating  children  of  one  family,  71 

Sleeping  arrangements:  See  Moral 
protection 

Sources  from  which  children  are  re- 
ceived, 13 

Spending  money,  85 

State:  relation  of  Association  to,  5; 
see  also,  PubHc  officials 

Supervision:  See  Adjustment,  Person- 
ahty.  Visits  after  placement 

Teachers:  see  Education 

Temporary  care,  16,  17,  65,  66 

Tests:  intelligence,  see  Examinations; 
see  also.  Venereal  disease 

Unmarried  parents:  assistance  to,  12 

Unsuccessful  placements:  Causes  of, 
33;  see  also  Re-placements 

Venereal  disease:  examinations  for,  15 

"Visiting  homes":  use  of,  29,  67 

Visits  after  placement:  continuity  of, 
100;  facts  to  be  obtained,  80  seq.; 
frequency  of,  79;  interviews  with 
children,  100;  interviews  with  foster 
fathers,  88;  references,  97;  teachers, 
96;  termination  of,  114;  time  of,  95; 
type  of,  93,  94;  see  also.  Adjust- 
ments, Adoption,  PersonaUty 

Wages:  adjustment  of,  83,  84 

Work:  amount,  83;  opportunities  for, 
84;  overwork,  83;  payment  for,  84; 
type  of,  84 


[150 


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